With or without Davis, New Orleans can’t match Warriors at this point
The New Orleans Pelicans have listed Anthony Davis as “TBD” for Wednesday night’s game against the Warriors at Oracle Arena, meaning his status is yet to be determined because of a sprained right elbow.
It is hereby decreed that those letters carry new meaning for any team facing the Warriors, home or away: To Be Destroyed. The Pelicans were probably feeling good about themselves Monday night, despite a 116111 loss in Denver. Playing without Davis, get-
ting inspired play from their bench, they rallied from an 18-point deficit and nearly knocked off one of the Western Conference’s most impressive teams.
On Tuesday, they got complete video evidence of the Warriors’ game in Chicago. That’s enough to send any Golden State opponent into a state of depression.
We’re looking at the peak of the Warriors’ dynasty, right this minute. The typically cohesive team is tighter than ever. Spells of tension and anxiety have given way to sublime relaxation and, quite often, unbridled revelry. A oncesuspect bench has gained depth and respect. Everything about the team seems fresh. As for Klay Thompson in the 149124 destruction of the Bulls — good grief, did you see that?
Just as important, have you fully grasped what has taken place in the past week? First, Stephen Curry lit up the Wizards for 51 at Oracle. Then came Kevin Durant’s 25-point fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden, burying the Knicks. That’s about the time NBA insiders began combing the record books for any “onetwo punch” comparisons — but they weren’t thinking clearly. Thompson’s record 14 threepointers, and 52 points in just 27 minutes, reaffirmed that the Warriors are the only team in NBA history owning three of the greatest shooters of all time.
There’s something about Thompson when he really gets hot, something dreamy and surreal. Even Curry and Durant step aside, willing to give Thompson — a textbook blur of motion without the ball — his proper stage. Much was made of the team’s joyous celebration when Thompson set the record, but the Warriors saw it coming much earlier. Returning to the bench after going 3-for-3 from long range, Thompson was smiling broadly as teammates danced, broke out laughing and pounded him on the back. He knew. They all knew. It would be one of those nights.
(Speaking of numbers: The Warriors’ 92-point first half was a franchise record, but well shy of the league mark. On Nov. 10, 1990, Phoenix scored 107 first-half points in a 173-143 win over Denver. Those were the Suns of Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, Tom Chambers, Cedric Ceballos, Eddie Johnson and Jeff Hornacek — and the Nuggets, who were coached by Paul Westhead, allowed 130.8 points per game that season.)
In every sense, the Warriors’ current climate is sublime. Durant very well might seek new adventures as a free agent, but that’s old news now, not a matter of internal discussion or even grave concern. The three young centers — Damian Jones, Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell — will be a collective plus even if DeMarcus Cousins isn’t able to return at full strength. The dynamic of share-the-ball sacrifice is a worthy equal to Bill Russell’s Celtics, the Walt Frazier-Willis Reed Knicks, the 2014 Spurs or any other powerhouse you can name.
Telling example: As Monday night’s fourth quarter began, the Warriors needed two threepointers to break the record for a game (25). It would have been nice, but with backup players on the floor, staying within the system and refusing to take bad shots, that bit of history wasn’t even addressed. Let it happen some other night (very soon, the way things are going).
Even general manager Bob Myers is on a roll. After a mild and inconsequential slump, bringing Nick Young and Omri Casspi on board last season, he landed Jonas Jerebko — skilled, engaging, everything the Warriors hoped — and out-of-nowhere Alfonzo McKinnie, who has no clear weakness and humbly appreciates his astounding good fortune to be part of this team.
So here comes New Orleans, and whatever Davis’ condition might be, you know he wants to be on the floor. Known in his youth as a reluctant star, bereft of ego and needing to be pushed to his full potential, he has come to embrace his status as the best all-around big man in the game. He speaks openly of being the best player, period, with an eye on the MVP award. And in the wake of much frustration in the playoffs — including last season’s loss in five games to Golden State in the Western Conference semis — he wants to win.
After this season, Davis is eligible to sign a five-year, $235 million extension with the Pelicans. If he balks, he could wait to leave in 2020 as an unrestricted free agent. This is a good New Orleans team, but not great, with Davis the anchor. If he becomes frustrated and hints of wanderlust, the team might be forced to trade him. The mere prospect sounds intriguing to a number of teams, all of them focused on what might come down in the future.
All but one, that is. The Warriors have today, in all its magnificence.