Among the teams for which it is difficult to imagine the course in the playoffs, the Warriors occupy a place of choice. After two years of absence in the finals, the Californians return to the playoffs with expectations that no longer have much to compare with their great era: the five consecutive Finals, from 2015 to 2019, marked by three titles (2015, 2017 and 2018).
A simple first round, against the Nuggets? Then a second? Or even a conference final? ” Nobody imagines us going out to the West, except our families at least”displays Stephen Curry, who participated in yesterday’s training, with a view to his return. “What suits us. It’s just about winning four games, and for that, we have a certain game plan that we will try to execute on Saturday. »
The double MVP and his family have clearly changed their perspective. Rather than projecting themselves into a new NBA Finals as they did in the past, they now want to avoid projecting themselves.
A feeling confirmed by Steve Kerr: “ I think four years ago I expected to win a title. But we are a different team now. I have no expectations. I know that I do not approach the playoffs by saying to myself: ‘All right, we are going to do this or that’. I’m just like, ‘How can we beat Denver on Saturday?’ It’s something really nice. Maybe not as much as having one of the best squads ever assembled. But this is a completely different and unique challenge. »
Kevin Durant is gone while the figures of that glorious era, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are all over 32 now. This year, these veterans will go on an adventure with a slew of players who are much younger (Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga) or who haven’t had as much playoff experience (Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr.).
This is the reason why Klay Thompson took the liberty of showing, to the youngest, images of the 2016 Warriors who had broken the record for victories (73) in the regular season before an exceptional course in the playoffs: a victory against the Thunder in the Conference Finals, after trailing 3-1, before an NBA Finals loss to the Cavaliers after leading 3-1 in turn. History to make it clear to the “baby Warriors” of today, that despite a status of favorite, nothing is certain.
“ I still have the same expectations as before, and that is to win a title.book on its side the rear. “That’s what awaits us. We know how difficult it is, and yes, it’s a different time, but nothing is ever the same. We have the opportunity in front of us, and it’s a great opportunity. »
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Stephen Curry | 64 | 34.6 | 43.7 | 38.0 | 92.3 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 25.5 |
| Klay Thompson | 32 | 29.4 | 42.9 | 38.5 | 90.2 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 20.4 |
| Jordan Poole | 76 | 30.0 | 44.8 | 36.4 | 92.5 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 18.5 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 73 | 31.9 | 46.6 | 39.3 | 63.4 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 17.2 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 70 | 16.9 | 51.3 | 33.6 | 68.4 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 9.3 |
| Otto Porter | 63 | 22.2 | 46.4 | 37.0 | 80.3 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 8.2 |
| Draymond Green | 46 | 28.9 | 52.5 | 29.6 | 65.9 | 1.0 | 6.3 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 7.5 |
| Damion Lee | 63 | 19.9 | 44.1 | 33.7 | 88.0 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 7.4 |
| Gary Payton II | 71 | 17.6 | 61.6 | 35.8 | 60.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| Nemanja Bjelica | 71 | 16.1 | 46.8 | 36.2 | 72.8 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 6.1 |
| Kevon Looney | 82 | 21.1 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 6.0 |
| Moses Moody | 52 | 11.7 | 43.7 | 36.4 | 77.8 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 4.4 |
| Juan Toscano Anderson | 73 | 13.6 | 48.9 | 32.2 | 57.1 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 4.1 |
| Andre Iguodala | 31 | 19.4 | 38.0 | 23.0 | 75.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| Quinndary Weatherspoon | 11 | 6.7 | 57.1 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| Chris Chiozza | 34 | 10.9 | 29.6 | 32.1 | 66.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 2.0 |
| Jeff Dowtin | 4 | 6.9 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 |