Denver, April 2013. Boston, June 2022. The years go by, the playoff series accumulate, and the Warriors have gotten into the habit of making themselves at home. Since the Dubs returned to the playoffs in 2013 against Andre Iguodala’s Nuggets, Stephen CurryDraymond Green et Klay Thompson have never returned empty-handed from a trip.
In those 27 series, some away wins are more memorable than others. The first two in 2013 against Denver and San Antonio still retain a special flavor today because they presaged a bright future for these young Warriors. Winning at Memphis and Cleveland in 2015, then trailing 2-1, paved the way for the first title. And then Klay Thompson caught fire at OKC in Game 6 of 2016. Kevin Durant crucified Cleveland in Game 3 in 2017 and 2018. Stephen Curry’s 33 points in the second half of Game 6 in Houston in 2019. The Game 5 of the “Splash Brothers” in Toronto. And finally, Curry’s masterpiece last night.
Memorable away successes
Every memory of those wins reminds us of a signature performance, but if Steve Kerr doesn’t put Andrew Bogut over Tony Allen at Memphis in 2015, if Andre Iguodala doesn’t steal the ball from Kevin Durant in 2016 at OKC and then LeBron James in Cleveland in 2017, and if Quinn Cook and DeMarcus Cousins didn’t catch fire in Toronto in 2019, those memories wouldn’t exist because the Warriors would surely have lost those games.
Despite all the superlatives that can be used to describe Stephen Curry’s performance in Game 4 of the Finals on the TD Garden floor, he would not have emerged victorious without Andrew Wiggins’ 16 rebounds, Klay Thompson’s 8 points and the 3 offensive rebounds of Draymond Green in the last quarter, or the precious minutes of Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole.
In a few years, when we remember this match, we will not remember these details. This match will rightly be defined by the performance of Stephen Curry. These details, which often come elsewhere than in scoring, are nevertheless essential and the star of the night summed it up simply: “Everyone responded. »
“We all have to bring our piece to the building, even the smallest of contributions, we need everything. We have to leave everything on the floor”described Andrew Wiggins who, for his first playoffs and Finals in the Warriors jersey, set a personal record for rebounds (16) in Game 4.
The importance of adjustments
It’s a lot easier said than done, but it’s that distinction that allows the Warriors to repeat that kind of performance. Each season, they manage to sublimate themselves on the opposing floor because Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson lead by example. They leave their egos in the locker room and focus on the only goal that matters, winning
“We know that there is only one thing that matters, and that is victory”summed up Stephen Curry. “All decisions made by the team are guided by this objective. »
One of the decisions in the spotlight after the game was Steve Kerr’s choice to take Draymond Green out with eight minutes left in the game in favor of Kevon Looney, and to make handball changes, attack – defense, between Jordan Poole and Green during the last four minutes of the match.
After a disastrous Game 3, Green was much better in Game 4, despite a 1/7 on shots. His lack of confidence on these shot attempts, whether three-point or closer to the circle, is glaring. When making this decision, Steve Kerr however did not hesitate because it was the best choice to give his team a chance to win the match. Green did not appreciate this choice but instead of leaving his match, he too thought of victory.
“As soon as he returned to the field, he was decisive”soulignait Steve Kerr. “He finished the game with 4 steals, 8 assists, 9 rebounds. I understand it’s hard for him to score against Boston’s size and athleticism, but he still finds a way to impact the game at a high level. »
The experience of the major trio and the coach
The same is true for Klay Thompson. The “Splash Brother” was in trouble with his shot in the first two games, he woke up in Game 3 but again lacked skill in the first three quarters of Game 4. On the other hand, he was unstoppable on defense and scored eight points in the final quarter, including two award-winning shots that came just after TD Garden’s “F**K You, Klay.”
We tend to forget that the Finals have to be complicated. They must test you, push you back to your limits. This is true for Draymond Green, for Klay Thompson, but also for Jayson Tatum. It’s easy to trivialize Stephen Curry’s unique performances, but we can’t see them as the standard or lens through which we analyze the impact of other players.
« I have a group of guys who will one day be in the Hall Of Fame: Steph, Klay, Draymond. These guys embody our consistency. They have been here together throughout this period. They’re not only gifted, they’re also incredibly competitive, and that’s what it takes to win away from home. You have to call on that kind of drive, intensity and passion, and these guys have it. »
Boston defends very well on Green and Thompson. Golden State is defending hard on Tatum. One could hope for better performances from them, but all that matters is getting four wins. It doesn’t matter how.
This is the message shared by the experienced Warriors to their young teammates.
“It’s a marathon. You have to realize that a team like them can start the match by almost knocking you out, but you have to take it, and get back on your feet little by little for 48 minutes.explains Draymond Green. “And if you manage to play a solid 48 minutes, you give yourself a chance to win. »
The mental force
Solid, they were. Every time Boston tried to take off, the Warriors never cracked. They remained in ambush thanks to Stephen Curry but also thanks to the contributions of their second knives.
“We’ve all been playing in this league for a long time, apart from JP (Jordan Poole). And we know the bullet finds you if you keep doing the menial tasks. Defend, make delay screens, and never give up »summed up Klay Thompson.
To this must be added a spirit of fierce competition. Whether it’s the players fighting like hell on the field, or Steve Kerr who was active like never before on his bench, the Warriors wanted to make their presence felt.
“We wanted to send a message to everyone who was in the room”expliquait Stephen Curry. “Their fans, their team, our team, we wanted to show everyone this fire and this energy that we had in us. »
A matter of will
As since 2013, the Warriors therefore went to seek this victory outside in the depths of themselves because “The only thing that matters right now is winning” said Clay Thompson. And newcomers, like Andrew Wiggins, are getting up to speed. You can see it on the pitch but also in their speech, no matter how brief.
“I want to win and rebounding is an important aspect of achieving our goals,” coldly launched the Canadian, after setting his career best with 16 catches. “I just want to win. »
More than their talent, the Warriors have shown for years that they have this sacred fire that burns in them and that spreads from their veterans to the rest of the workforce. They have heart, never give up and thanks to that they always give themselves a chance to win.
“That’s all you need to win away from home,” summarizes Steve Kerr. “You have to be able to summon that intense will, that passion, that thirst for winning, and Steph, Klay and Draymond have that ability. »
Interview in Boston.
