Warriors back in familiar territory
SAN FRANCISCO Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are cherishing this playoff run a little more given they spent the past two years watching the post-season, instead of their familiar position chasing championships.
Now, with those experienced faces and a cast of new stars, the Warriors are headed to another Western Conference final and need just four more wins to give themselves a title chance again.
They will lean on the experience of Curry, Green, Thompson and Kevon Looney having been here so many times already.
“It’s unbelievable knowing what we’ve been through these last two years, and six of the last eight, (that) we have an opportunity to play for the Finals,” said Curry, who took his team to five straight Finals from 2015-19.
For Thompson, it means so much given he returned in January after more than 2 1 ⁄ years spent recovering 2 from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles tendon.
Golden State grabbed 70 rebounds — 22 by Looney, after Curry and Green pushed for him to be a starter again — on the way to eliminating the Memphis Grizzlies 11096 on Friday night and will face the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks in a best-of-seven battle for the West. Game 7 of that series is Sunday in Phoenix. The Bucks-Celtics series will also be settled Sunday, in Boston.
Thompson scored 30 points with eight three-pointers in adding another Game 6 masterpiece to his long list of them.
“I love the moments,” he said. “I love the pressure. I love playing basketball at the highest level.”
Fresh faces Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole are playing huge roles during this run. Golden State suddenly also has a raucous home crowd at the Chase Center, where the Warriors are 6-0 in these playoffs. It feels a little like old Oracle Arena these days.
“It took everything we had to win that game,” Green said late Friday, “including the fan support and the noise that was in the arena.”
The Splash Brothers, Curry and Thompson, let loose on their own floor as fans chanted “Whoop that trick.”
The Warriors have certainly endured their share of drama to get this far.
■ They contended with two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic over a five-game first-round series with the Nuggets, then got past Ja Morant and Memphis in a series full of back-and-forth chatter. The Grizzlies eliminated the Warriors in a play-in game last season.
■ Gary Payton II went down with a fractured left elbow on a hard foul by Dillon Brooks that led to the Memphis star’s one-game suspension.
■ Morant got hurt in Game 3 and accused Poole of re-injuring his troublesome right knee, by pulling on it as they fought for a loose ball.
■ Coach Steve Kerr caught COVID-19 and sat out Games 4, 5 and 6. Mike Brown became the acting head coach of two teams at once — recently chosen by the Sacramento Kings for next season.
While Kerr’s return date remains uncertain, Brown has guided the Warriors to a 13-1 playoff mark filling in, including an 11-0 during their 2017 championship run while Kerr had severe back pain.
“Mike B. is one of a kind. He’s a player’s coach. He’s a great leader. He loves the game,” Thompson said. “We are going to miss him next year obviously, but we will welcome back Steve with open arms. He’s our leader.”
Green was joined on the postgame podium by son D.J. as the do-everything forward shared a story of watching the playoffs while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas at this time last year, acknowledging, “It feels good to be back.”