The Golden State Warriors Choose Poise Over Perfection

The Golden State Warriors swept their way to their third straight NBA Finals Appearance, but the most notable aspect to takeaway is their calm and poised nature after winning the Western Conference, which can prove to be the difference come June 1st.

As the Golden State Warriors heard the final buzzer sound, all but sealing their four-game sweep of the San Antonio Spurs and punching their ticket to their third straight NBA Finals, there was a noticeable difference in the atmosphere of the team. They had dominated the first three rounds, coming into the Finals with an unprecedented and perfect 12-0 record, yet you couldn’t tell if you watched them celebrate post game.

Surely they were happy to win the Western Conference, as reporters noted that Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and others smiled as they walked off the court. But ultimately, you could get the sense that Golden State wasn’t satisfied. After all, they’ve been in this exact same spot before.

Two years ago, they hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time in 40 years. Last year, they tasted defeat in the most heartbreaking fashion possible. This team has experienced the highs and lows of any team that has entered the NBA Finals. And it’s for this reason that the Warriors are staying poised and focused on the larger goal at hand, rather than dwelling on their perfect path to this point.

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Both Curry and Durant reiterated this point, commenting, “12-0 is great. Doesn’t mean anything going into the next series. We have to understand that.” This mindset is imperative to Golden State as they attempt to reclaim the championship trophy come June. Their best brand of basketball is desperate basketball, where they hustle and play every game like it’s their last. They dominate the boards, their passes are sharp, and their ball movement is precise. This is when the Golden State Warriors are at their best.

With such a long layover between games, the Warriors are wise to stay focused and prepared for whomever comes out on top in the Eastern Conference, even if it will most likely be the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom Golden State ultimately wants to face. The Spurs managed to catch them off guard in game one of the Western Conference Finals, and Golden State cannot allow Cleveland, or the Boston Celtics, if they were to make it, to do the same in the NBA Finals.

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It is important to commend the Golden State Warriors on their undefeated path to this point, an extraordinary feat accomplished only by few teams in history. But everyone, including fans and the Warriors themselves, remember championships at the end of the day. Perfection is great in the moment, but poise can lead this Golden State Warriors team to being remembered for a while.