THE WARRIORS CHANCE TO REVIVE THE DYNASTY IS HERE
Much of the rhetoric this year surrounding the Warriors was doubts. After a spectacular 2021 season from Stephen Curry, there were doubts about whether he could lead this team to a chip without KD. The Warriors started the season hotter than any team. Yet, there were doubts about the team's capability of playing this well all season long. Klay Thompson returned, but doubts came about whether he'll be the old Klay. These doubts poured in all season long, yet the Warriors overcame them and clinched the #3 seed in the West.
Even after an incredible season, people are still doubting this squad. With Golden State back at home in the playoffs and their motivation to win being greater than ever, the NBA should be scared. This is no regular run at a championship for the Warriors like it is for most other teams; this playoff season can be a defining year for not just the franchise, but for the Golden Trio.
While a championship would be an admirable milestone for the entire Warriors' roster, it ultimately will reflect the most on the big three. For Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry, there's still fuel in the tank left to go on a title run in the future. For the sake of the hate and doubt they endured over these last two years, however, it would be appropriate to call this an "all or nothing" season.
The Warriors' star trio has been vocal over the last three years saying that their reign of the NBA is not over. We heard it from Draymond after his return.
"Whether we're the 2-seed or the 3-seed, we're gonna win a championship. So it don't really matter," Green says.
In an interview with NBA Forward Serge Ibaka, Klay Thompson says he knows that having the core of the previous championship runs is already an advantage for them this year.
"Lucky for us, we still have the core of a Championship team from the past, being me, Steph, and Draymond. We won a lot of games together...". Thompson says.
In a recent interview on 95.7 the game, Steph also relayed his feelings towards this team going into the postseason.
"We have the utmost confidence in who we are, what we do, especially when the playoffs come around..." Curry says.
It's a frame of mind that ignited the type of season that Golden State had. With the leadership and experience of winning titles from previous years, there's no reason why they should not be this confident. Tagging along with them in this revenge trip to a title are their three-time champion teammates Kevon Looney and Andre Iguodala, veterans impact players such as Otto Porter Jr. and Andrew Wiggins, and the young talent of Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, and Jonathan Kuminga. It's an interesting dynamic, but this team has a mixture of players that makes sense for a potential run at a championship.
Although the legacy of Strength in Numbers is stamped in Golden State Warriors and NBA history, a title this year would be a pivotal moment for the careers of Curry, Klay, and Draymond. The slogan for the playoffs, Gold-Blooded, is a perfect fit for what this year can prove. Now mind you, no matter what happens this year, the trio has nothing to prove in their career. Winning championships is embedded in this franchise's DNA because of the trio. But a title this year would justify the strength and the greatness of the Warriors' dynasty.
The doubts about whether their first title together was legitimate will be tossed away; the doubts about the validity of their success throughout their ten years together will be forgotten. Everyone across the league knows how special this Golden State franchise is. There's a reason that their success, especially early on in the season, tossed the NBA into a frenzy. Now with the NBA's most feared team back in their comfort zone of playoff basketball, it's time for this championship pedigree to be put back on display. It will be a tough road ahead to a title, but it's a challenge that the Dubs' have been waiting for since the 2019 NBA Finals. Dray said it best after that finals loss. "We'll be back".
The Golden State Warriors are back indeed, and the revival of the dynasty begins now.
(Photo credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)