Meaningful growth from Stephen Curry, Warriors builds momentum for potential return to title contention

SAN FRANCISCO — Simply when the Golden State Warriors’ season appeared prefer it was getting began, it got here to an finish. The workforce was taking part in among the greatest basketball within the NBA. Native statues had simply modified to permit over 7,500 followers into Chase Middle for the primary time for the reason that pandemic started. The younger gamers, who had put in a lot effort and time each on their very own and with coaches, have been taking part in enormous minutes in essential video games.

However with Friday’s 117-112 extra time loss to the resilient Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors grew to become the primary No. 8 seed in NBA historical past to not make the playoffs. As a substitute of testing their mettle in a first-round collection with the league-best Utah Jazz, the Warriors will sit again, mirror and hope that the momentum generated during the last third of the schedule carries over into subsequent season.

“Couldn’t be prouder of the group. Simply unimaginable effort and willpower,” mentioned Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “They caught collectively. They made this season actually significant during the last couple of months, and that’s necessary.”

As soon as Klay Thompson went down with a torn Achilles final fall, this Warriors season was not about getting again into championship rivalry. It grew to become about growth, each for the younger gamers who discovered themselves thrust into greater roles and for the veteran leaders — Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced — who wanted to learn to thrive amid mediocrity following years of excellence.

“I feel our younger guys actually grew. I feel our vets had nice years,” Kerr mentioned. “So enjoyable to see Kevon Looney wholesome once more. Steph and Draymond had simply unbelievable years. I feel we made lots of strides this 12 months and I’m actually, actually enthusiastic about what’s subsequent for this group.”

That, certainly, is the lingering query for this Warriors workforce. What’s subsequent? Kerr known as this season “successful,” however lacking the playoffs gained’t be acceptable subsequent season as Curry, Inexperienced and Thompson all get a 12 months older.

Curry had maybe the very best season of his profession, turning into the oldest scoring champion since Michael Jordan and a finalist within the race for his third NBA MVP, and the best way groups defended him — sending three guys at him at occasions — solely provides him extra confidence heading into subsequent season when he’ll probably have extra assist with Thompson’s return.

“I don’t assume I’ve put collectively a run like that, with that a lot [defensive] consideration in my profession, so it was a very rewarding expertise,” Curry mentioned after the loss to Memphis. “The good ones work out a option to adapt, and perceive what the problem is and never complain about it, not make excuses, however simply exit and hoop. … There’s some pleasure and enjoyable in that, as a result of you recognize the dialog is how they’re gonna cease you, and also you’ve discovered methods to maintain that query unanswered.”

All of us noticed what Curry did on the courtroom, and the Warriors will profit from his accumulation of methods and data subsequent season, however his progress as a frontrunner could also be simply as necessary. With out veterans like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Andrew Bogut, that that they had throughout these championship runs, it is going to be as much as Curry and Inexperienced to wrangle the youthful gamers. Inexperienced mentioned at occasions this season it felt just like the workforce “needed to stop” and that there was “no hope,” and in these moments Curry’s management shone by means of the strongest.

“As somebody who’s performed with him for 9 years now, that was essentially the most spectacular factor I’ve ever seen from him,” Inexperienced mentioned of Curry’s management. “I do know the 12 months was unimaginable, the photographs have been unimaginable, the scoring, all of the issues that he did have been unimaginable. However what I took away from this 12 months was how he grew as a frontrunner. He stood out in entrance of us and gave us all somebody to comply with. That was the teaching workers, that was everybody. He gave all of us somebody to comply with. And it was unimaginable to comply with him.”

Among the gamers that Curry and Inexperienced helped lead this 12 months have gone from afterthoughts to core elements of the Warriors’ good run over the ultimate 20 video games of the season, after they led the NBA in internet score and defensive score. Jordan Poole was within the fifteenth percentile in general offense as a rookie final season, based on Synergy Sports activities Know-how. This season he completed within the 77th percentile, and earned Kerr’s belief to the purpose that, in a do-or-die ultimate recreation of the season, Poole performed 38 minutes, scoring 19 factors on 3-for-5 3-point capturing.

Juan Toscano-Anderson, whom the Warriors signed to a long-term contract late within the season, grew to become an important a part of the Warriors bench and one of many workforce’s greatest defenders, whereas flashing Draymond-esque playmaking from the 4 place. Mychal Mulder shot 40 % from the 3-point line, additionally showcasing his spectacular vertical leap on backdoor lob performs. Andrew Wiggins isn’t precisely younger by NBA requirements, however he efficiently flipped the narrative of his profession with a superb two-way season, and is likely to be considered as no less than a impartial asset, somewhat than a detrimental one, heading into the offseason.

“It’s thrilling. We’re going to have some guys come again who’re a lot additional alongside than they have been in coaching camp this 12 months. So our depth goes to enhance, and we’ve obtained some belongings with presumably a few first-round picks,” Kerr mentioned. “You realize, some nice, nice veteran gamers like Steph and Draymond and clearly Klay coming again will change rather a lot about our workforce. Very thrilling. Now we have lots of work to do that summer season, however we’re all enthusiastic about it.”

It’s in all probability naive to assume, nonetheless, that this group plus Klay Thompson and James Wiseman will all of a sudden go from lacking the playoffs to successful a championship. Inexperienced mentioned that the workforce continues to be “distant” from getting again into title rivalry and that he expects to be “extraordinarily concerned” in conversations with the coaches and entrance workplace about which personnel strikes can enhance the roster.

That’s one more reason the expansion of the younger gamers this season was so necessary. Ought to the Warriors attempt to bundle their belongings, specifically Wiseman, their very own first-round choose and/or this 12 months’s first-round choose that they’re owed from the Minnesota Timberwolves (which is top-three protected and turns into unprotected in 2023, however has the very best proportion of touchdown at both No. 7 or No. 8) for a game-changing star, items like Poole and Toscano-Anderson solely make a possible provide extra attractive.

The Warriors face monetary restrictions due to the gobs of cash owed to Curry, Inexperienced, Thompson and Wiggins, which suggests re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr. is likely to be a prudent transfer, if for no different purpose than to have a tradeable wage. Strikes might be made, whether or not or not there’s a “dwelling run” transaction on the market.

However for now, placing the offseason apart, the Warriors are pleased with how this season ended. We noticed how the Phoenix Suns took the momentum they constructed from an 8-0 run within the bubble and carried it over into this season. Golden State is hoping an analogous phenomenon helps return the workforce to its former glory.

“It was a particular 12 months all issues thought of, and a brand new expertise for me, Draymond, Loon,” Curry mentioned. “Attempt to benefit from it. Bottle this up, all people make the proper strides, make the most of the summer season and — you don’t need to see us subsequent 12 months.”