The Warriors summoned a deep and highly effective drive of their Christmas Day win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
You possibly can name it anger, frustration, elitism, or disdain.
I name it pleasure.
The Warriors coaches and gamers — sans Steph Curry — discovered it inside themselves to not simply beat the Grizzlies, however to embarrass them on nationwide tv.
The veterans needed to point out Memphis that speaking about being a dynasty and truly being a dynasty isn’t even near being the identical factor.
Jordan Poole needed to show that he's, in reality, the type of participant who might be the epicenter of an awesome offense.
The Warriors’ function gamers needed to show they may assist the staff win video games.
In all, the Warriors deserved the win Sunday. There was vitality all through the 123-109 victory. There was a goal to the Warriors’ recreation. The ball moved. Gamers moved. We had been all moved by the abysmal refereeing within the contest.
However in that deserved victory, a query: Why can’t they play like this on a regular basis?
Why should it take grudges and severe threats to spark the Warriors to play one thing resembling their finest basketball?
Is that this staff going again to “bleh” basketball on Tuesday, when it performs the Hornets?
We’ve seen the Dubs make these sorts of pushes towards high groups earlier than — the Celtics felt Golden State’s wrath on Dec. 10. Golden State subsequently misplaced 5 of its subsequent six video games.
The very fact is, with Curry out, the Warriors can’t slack. They should play like they did Sunday on a regular basis. If this staff had been to play each recreation with the pleasure it confirmed Sunday, Curry may return to seek out the Warriors in a greater place than when he left.
What an idea!
Curry might be out for at the very least one other two weeks. It could possibly be longer than that.
The season is teetering on the brink. If the Warriors proceed to lose at their present clip — three of 4 video games earlier than Sunday — the separation between them and the Western Convention playoff subject might be an excessive amount of for Curry to bridge.
Golden State continues to be in a suitable place, 2.5 video games again of a real playoff spot, and 6 video games again of the first-place Denver Nuggets.
Will that also be the case upon Curry’s return?
The Warriors proceed to function on the premise that the season is lengthy and that, at the very least at this juncture, it’s extra vital to preserve vitality than to win video games.
That concept should go.
Curry’s return is just not imminent.
And as taxing as enjoying laborious is likely to be, it's essential. Simply because the Warriors are 2.5 video games again of an actual playoff spot, they're solely 2.5 video games up on the Lakers, who're 13-20 and never going wherever this season. That, too, could possibly be the Dubs’ destiny.
The Warriors play seven straight dwelling video games towards some eminently beatable groups. Sure, there’s no Curry. However this is a wonderful alternative to make a push. The schedule virtually calls for that they make a push.
The Warriors have proven they've the main target and vitality to lock in and win video games. It’s time to summon the spirit they unleashed on the hated Grizzlies and apply it to the Hornets, Jazz, Pistons, and Magic.
It’s time for the Warriors to use a few of that highly effective pleasure to video games that don’t characteristic rivals.
I name that professionalism.