Among the many indicators of the apocalypse, Steph Curry scoring 60 factors in a Golden State Warriors loss is correct up there. That the 141-134 defeat got here towards the Atlanta Hawks is much more horrifying. The Hawks are 5 video games beneath .500, and look like properly on their approach to resetting the roster round Trae Younger, if not full-on rebuilding it. Half to 75 p.c of the group is on the commerce block, and for those who’re questioning which franchise I’m speaking about, it’s a good query.
The Warriors are 4 video games under the Mendoza line, solely Curry shouldn’t be available on the market, and the group is battling for the final play-in spot. A 12 months in the past, NBA followers puzzled if the Golden State dynasty was over as they spent a lot of the season attempting to determine issues out, and a number of observers wrote off the 2022-23 marketing campaign as a 12 months from hell.
Clearly, when Draymond Inexperienced punches a teammate within the face, that’s going to attract all the eye. Nevertheless, essentially the most alarming factor is we haven’t seen the Warriors look actually in sync since their title run three seasons in the past. Sure, Chef Curry can nonetheless get scorching in contrast to any participant on the planet, but Golden State has misplaced the previous three video games by which he’s eclipsed 50 factors. Earlier than 2022, the Warriors were 8-2 when Steph topped that mark.
I hate the phrases “in a vacuum” and Invoice Parcells’ mantra, “You’re what your report says you’re,’’ as a result of each are cliches, and we by no means, ever speak about athletes in a vacuum, or take information at face worth. These additionally occur to be the principle causes we’re not speaking about this 12 months’s Warriors like we speak about this 12 months’s Hawks.
Klay Thompson must be as expendable as Dejounte Murray, if no more so, contemplating the latter’s numbers are higher, and Murray can nonetheless play protection. After all Dub nation would riot if that commerce occurred, principally as a result of Golden State must sweeten the deal to entice Atlanta to take it.
Sure, I do know it’s sacreligious to speak like that. Thompson’s title parade performances alone make him off limits to Warriors’ followers, which is why the downfall of nice groups is so fascinating. Solely a sociopath like Invoice Belichick can compartmentalize reducing or buying and selling as soon as integral items of championship groups.
Sentiment is a strong drug. So at any time when Curry erupts for 60, followers and media members speak themselves out of loopy proclamations as a result of they don’t wish to spout the identical false take as earlier than, and query the best shooter who ever lived. If Steph can go for 60, that’s sufficient proof to present Golden State the good thing about the doubt.
What if the 60-burger got here in a loss to a group that’s unquestionably headed south? Inexperienced, Thompson and Andrew Wiggins had been a mixed 8 of 34 from the sphere. Klay has solely scored greater than 30 twice in a season by which Cam Thomas can get that half asleep. Hell, Scoot Henderson has as many 30-point outings.
Hardly ever can we get to witness a gaggle of men undergo your entire lifecycle of knowledgeable athlete collectively. It takes a loopy quantity of success and chemistry to even be allowed to attempt, and this Golden State Warriors’ season — not from hell, possibly from actuality — is why we often by no means attain that time.
