April 11th, 2016
Monday has arrived, so back on the weekday grind. But of course it’s hard to ignore what happened the night before. The Golden State Warriors had their biggest game of the season so far against the San Antonio Spurs. The game was in San Antonio, and this was the last significant question left for the Bay Area sports team: Could they beat the other dominant team in the league in their home court? If they could, the chances of them winning the NBA title for the 2015-16 season would be even higher.
Going into the game 71-9 meant that the Warriors could tie the '95-'96 Bulls record of 72-10, but they had to win this game to have any chance at 73-9. Even though the Spurs would play without Tim Duncan (rest) and Boris Diaw (injury), the Warriors had a tough task ahead of themselves. So it proved, 35-35 going into the 2nd half, and the Spurs for the most part having a firm grip on the game.
Then the 4th quarter happened. The Warriors had every piece in their arsenal hitting their stride, and then everything came together to put the game away in their favor. The Spurs fans did what the Heat fans did in Game Six of the 2013 NBA Finals, leaving the stadium early in the final minutes after what seemed to be certain defeat for the Spurs. Unlike that game, the Spurs couldn’t bounce back and Warriors silenced critics and changed NBA history once again with win number 72.
Now all eyes are back on Oracle Arena, where the Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are a solid team, but somewhat of a far cry from their playoff level of 2015, especially without key players Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. They stand in the way of Warriors setting a new NBA regular season record. Few games have been as highly anticipated by myself or by fans in general than this one.
April 12th, 2016
The Warriors and DubNation have one more game to keep an eye on before tomorrow night’s fateful encounter in Oakland. It takes place at the Staples Center. The LA Clippers host the Memphis Grizzlies in an important encounter, as this result could play a role in whether Memphis finishes as the fifth, sixth, or seventh seed. Fifth seed would mean facing the Clippers in the first round, sixth the Oklahoma City Thunder, and seventh the San Antonio Spurs. All three are very strong teams, but it’s like when you open Pandora’s Box and the next “evil” to appear is mightier than the one before it.
With all due respect to the Clippers, it may be the Grizzlies' last chance for a win. If the Clippers lose in Los Angeles, the one hour and 10 minute flight from LAX to Oakland will feel even longer.
There’s no telling what is about to happen. The Clippers and the Grizzlies have shown what they are capable of when all parts are running full throttle and their players are in sync. We’ve seen shades of the formidable teams that made it to the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2015 Playoffs, despite being disappointing and unconvincing for long stretches of this season. However, both teams will be looking at this game differently. While a lot remains unclear for the Grizzlies in terms of playoff seeding, the LA Clippers are stuck at fourth seed. They also plan on resting players on Wednesday as they travel to Phoenix for their final games against the young team Phoenix Suns. The best case scenario for the Warriors fans would be the game going into overtime. Also for morale purposes: If the Clippers can beat the Grizzlies in their home, the Warriors should be able to repeat that result in theirs.
Post Game
That was one-sided. The Clippers held firm control over the whole match and ultimately beat the Grizzlies by a score of 110-84. Assuming is a dangerous thing to do, but this result favors the Warriors tomorrow in reaching win number 73. There's too much of a gap in talent at the moment, but the Warriors will still have to earn it.
Game Day for the Warriors
As soon as I woke up I immediately got my hat and my shirt. This day above all others is a great day to show pride in being a Warriors fan. This is a dream of an opportunity. This franchise went from being the biggest joke to the biggest threat in the league, and it’s incredible to watch.
The evolution of this team is staggering as well. Once Steph Curry and Klay Thompson got the ball rolling and got this team into the playoffs for two seasons, it was nice to be supporting a team that was competitive. Competitive swiftly became contender status, and the next thing I knew, the Warriors beat the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to end a 40-year title drought. And now, the Warriors are not only defending their title proudly, but they are looking to break a huge record. I never would’ve imagined this team being in this scenario. It’s a special moment, and hopefully it goes well.
Halftime
You really couldn’t have written it any better so far. Steph Curry with seven three-pointers, Warriors with 50 percent shooting, and the Warriors going into halftime 70-50. Grizzlies had no fast break points, and that was the source of half of the Warriors' points so far. It’s also good to see the gang together; everyone’s healthy and playing well. It’s like a well-oiled machine, akin to other champion teams like the German and Spanish national teams that won the 2014 World Cup, 2012 European Champion, and 2010 World Cup respectively. You can never be too sure, but I feel like every Warriors fans is in a “We believe” (remember Baron Davis? 2007 NBA Playoffs? Good times, not as good as these) mode. We believe this team will win.
Second half
It didn’t take long for Steph Curry to make it to 400 and set another record. This one being most threes made in a single season. The Grizzlies are putting up some sort of fight, with the likes of longtime NBA veteran Vince Carter as well as Lance Stephenson and co. making some good shots, but Warriors are keeping them at a safe distance.
102-81 going into the 4th. Thinking about the playoffs, Steve Kerr has to juggle the needs of his players to make sure they can maintain this win but also keep everyone in good shape to begin their playoff series soon, which is set to be against the Houston Rockets. Memphis are doing just enough to prevent a total blowout, but the Warriors haven’t let their lead shrink from double digits.
As the game winds down and the source remains in favor of Golden State, it feels more like a dream that keeps getting better and better. We will have to wake up soon because none of that really matters in the playoffs, but it’s still an amazing accomplishment.
The Final Moments
Grizzlies 104, Warriors 125. Hairston misses from close range, as Warriors' Leandro Barbosa gets the rebound and keeps the ball until the clock hits zero one last time. “No longer chasing history, the Warriors now stand alone!” says the CSN Bay Area announcer. Unbelievable. It doesn’t feel like real life. One of the hardest records to break in sports was just broken.
Mission Accomplished, New Mission Begins
At least for now, even when the Golden State Warriors’ era comes to a close they can say their franchise has the best regular season record 73-9. Draymond Green gave a final thanks to the fans to yet another sold out Oracle Arena, thanking God, thanking everyone in the Warriors organization for helping make this achievement a reality. Steph Curry receiving love from his mother and wife being a reminder that this meant a lot to a lot of people in a lot of different ways.
The scene goes on. Everyone reacts, Steve Kerr gives a closing speech, and the credits roll. It’s like the end to a movie. As a Warriors fan, I won’t forget this ever. Moments like this reward you for being a fan through good and bad times and keep you a fan for life. That’s what it’s all about. I’m fortunate to have witnessed this chapter being written in NBA history, but history continues to be written every day, so there will be something else to look forward to, that much I know!
