The Golden State Warriors don’t have much time to rest their battered bodies with Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals looming on Tuesday. The Wolves made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, securing their series victory in just five games. Meanwhile, the Dubs faced a grueling challenge against a tough and tenacious Houston Rockets team, ultimately emerging victorious in a hard-fought Game 7 on Sunday.
Despite the odds stacked against Golden State, former Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy is confident the Warriors will find a way to emerge victorious, primarily because they don’t play the type of lackluster defense the Purple & Gold exhibited in the first round.
A different kind of beast
When the Warriors won four NBA championships in the last ten years, most of the attention was on their incredible shot-making prowess, led by Steph Curry and, in previous seasons, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. With three of the greatest shooters in NBA history sharing the floor, it was nearly impossible for any team to keep up.
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However, an underrated aspect of their success was their defense. The Warriors were consistently one of the best defensive teams in the league, with elite players like Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala leading the charge. Wolves All-Stars Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert present a formidable postseason challenge. Despite that, McCoy emphasized that Minnesota should prepare for a more brutal battle ahead than their matchup against the Lakers.
“Going forward, I know we want to talk about the Timberwolves. They are a good team. Ant-Man is playing phenomenal. They have a good defense and all that type of stuff,” the former NFL running back stated. “But guess what? We are not the Lakers. We do not play that effort like Luka. We are not that.”
The former Pro Bowler has a valid point. While the Lakers had prolific offensive weapons in Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, their defense left a lot to be desired, and pundits cited it as the main reason for their early postseason exit.
On the other hand, the Dubs have numerous proud defenders led by former Defensive Player of the Year in Draymond and five-time All-Defensive Team member in Jimmy. Even Steph, considered a liability on that end early in his career, has vastly improved his defensive skills and is now a strong contributor on that end of the court.
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Curry believed in his teammates
Steph, a two-time league MVP, had a rough start in Game 7, scoring only three points at halftime. When the third quarter ended, he still only had eight. At that point, lesser superstars would have tried to force the issue to get theirs. But Curry stayed patient and focused on the long game—the win, not his numbers.
“Patience is a virtue—and Steph Curry is the most virtuous man on the planet,” veteran journalist Ric Bucher said. “Because it’s a Game 7, and you’re trying to get to the next round—and he was incredibly patient through the first three quarters.”
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“‘I’m not going to force anything. You’re going to have two guys chasing me all over the court? I’m going to trust my teammates. Buddy Hield—I’ve told you, I love playing with you. You’re up and down. You’ve been there, sometimes you haven’t. I believe that you can get it done. We’re going to get you those shots.’ And then, when it came to putting the stick in the dagger? Steph Curry was there to get it done,” Bucher continued.
The Warriors have their backs against the wall against a Timberwolves squad intent on completing their rise to the league’s elite after they were stopped by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals last year. The Dubs have a stout defense, but the question remains: Will it be enough to stop Ant, Randle, and the rest of the Wolves?