Five years ago today, the Warriors tumbled back down to earth

Five years ago today, the Warriors tumbled back down to earth originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For five years, the Warriors were an 18-wheeler on a full tank, barreling downhill, crushing all in its path. A mere glimpse of that rolling beast in the rearview mirror was enough for many NBA teams to surrender and accept the inevitable.

Until that unforgettable evening five years ago Thursday when the tires blew out and the truck skidded off the pavement and over the embankment.

While the rest of the NBA could once again breathe freely, those along for the incredible five-year ride that was the Golden State Warriors turned to stone. This was the end. They knew it before it was official.

June 13, 2019, was the night Golden State fell from indomitability. When the beast broke down and the “Super Villains” were vanquished. When the Warriors Invitational, as cheerfully described by Draymond Green, reassumed its previous branding: NBA Finals.

When the Warriors lost Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, they also lost the series to the Toronto Raptors, the magical run that made them global celebrities, the cloak of invincibility they carried with them each time they stepped onto the floor.

The single most catastrophic moment came late in the third quarter with the Warriors holding an 83-80 lead. Klay Thompson, having one of greatest games of a fabulous career, rose for a breakaway a dunk attempt and was fouled by Toronto’s Danny Green. Thompson landed awkwardly, immediately clutched his left knee and remained on the floor for about a minute.

The crowd at Oracle Arena, loud enough to rattle the building’s exterior glass, went silent with anxiety. Stephen Curry grabbed the ball with two hands, slammed it off the court, trudged to opposite basket court and sat alone on the floor.  Thompson, after being helped to his feet, limped toward the locker room with team medical personnel and general manager Bob Myers.

Then, suddenly, Thompson turned and limped back toward the court, his reemergence met with a thunderous ovation rooted in relief. He shot and made two free throws, pushing the lead to five, after which DeMarcus…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/five-years-ago-today-warriors-145748432.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-06-13 14:57:48

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