Golden State Warriors Only Halfway Through Title Journey
The Golden State Warriors’ surprisingly hard fought series against the Trailblazers moves them closer to a second consecutive title, but it’s a journey far from over.
When the Golden State Warriors saw the final seconds of their second round playoff series versus the Portland Trailblazers “finally” tick away, they realized two very significant points — they had just beaten a very worthy opponent and their NBA title chase was only halfway complete.
The official NBA record books will only list the Warriors’ second round playoff series versus the upstart Trailblazers as a five-game tilt, in which the defending champions dispatched of a young, talented but inexperienced Portland team — a team that lacked the necessary playoff scars to takedown a battled tested Champion.
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The problem with that future Wikipedia blurb is the injustice it does describing the minute-by-minute battle, between these two talented and determined teams. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum led a wide-open three-point barrage, that at times, left Warriors’ players and fans alike, stressed and looking for answers.
It took the Warriors’ championship savvy and some “MVP Magic” to ultimately end a potent Portland assault. The series win though, put Golden State into the Western Conference Finals for the second time in as many years.
The challenge of facing a hungry, determined team like Portland is exactly what the Warriors needed, after the lackluster effort given to them by the Houston Rockets in the first round. Facing an uninspired Rockets team may have given the Warriors a false sense of security, which had previously never been a problem for this internally driven veteran team.
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Each game between Golden State and Portland though, two electrically charged offensive teams left undeniable memories of torrid competition and a feverish pace — two unique qualities missing in the ongoing slumber-fest, better known as the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Trailblazer series offered everything a good playoff series should. Big-time players making big-time shots, and two worthy opponents refusing to wilt under the extreme pressure of playoff basketball.
The five game test the Warriors just endured may have seemed like a challenging venture. But in reality it’s most likely just the prelude to an even more torrid road. The next stretch of the playoff highway is sure to offer a more challenging and lengthy test.
Given the game six dismantling of the San Antonio Spurs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors’ next opponent will offer a variety of matchup difficulties.
The electrifying tandem of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant will present the Warriors with an ultimate challenge; unlike the Blazers dynamic backcourt of Lillard and McCollum, the Thunders’ duo has the experience and physicality to cause a myriad of problems for Golden State.
Standing at almost seven-feet tall, Durant is the ultimate offensive weapon. His ball handling skills and quickness makes it almost impossible for any big man to stay with him. While Westbrook brings the rage of the “Incredible Hulk” combined with the athleticism of “Superman.”
Golden State knew their quest to defend their NBA title would be a long and difficult road. The challenge of going through a difficult 82 game regular season, as the defending champions, offered its own barrage of difficulties and test. It was a test the Warriors passed with Straight-A’s. But now the real fun begins.
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With the Warriors reaching the halfway mark of their playoff journey, it’s time to put the foot on the gas and power forward, because the road to the championship has many more speed bumps approaching.