SAN FRANCISCO – The scene was familiar and foreign at the same time.
We’ve seen the Golden State Warriors celebrate their NBA finals many times this era – five times in the seven years at the Oracle Arena before Thursday night, to be exact. When you see the crowd of Ayesha Curry / Mary Babers-Green / Julie Thompson having fun long after the final whistle, as it was after the victory in game 5 over Dallas, enjoying this renaissance led by the same Steph / Draymond / Klay core that started this dynastic movement eight years ago, you know there is probably some trophy.
But we had never seen this group chase after her at Chase Center, where this gentleman-clearing affair was only necessary because they got involved in Game 4 in Dallas two days before, and so – according to our Tim Kawakami – they came across another $ 10 million in revenue due to the added home game. By the way, the upcoming home games of the Finals are worth over $ 15 million each.
Talk about a rich experience for all involved – in more ways than one.
And yet, from the enthusiasm of Golden State to the elimination of Dallas and all the captivating sights and sounds in between, there were many things to perceive that didn’t show up on your television. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the night the Warriors won the West.
Again.
Nintendo Clay
It may be a generation – well, it’s definitely a generation – but Clay Thompson’s mention of his Nintendo habits during his post-match press conference sparked a level of curiosity that goes far beyond anything he had to say about the game itself. Sometime around 1985, the 44-year-old was photographing his victory over Mike Tyson in the Punch-Out, hoping to win the award, which turned out to be an urban legend.
So, while it was quite impressive, Thompson scored eight 3 points in Game 5, beating Stephen Curry, Damien Lillard and Ray Allen to become the all-time playoff leader with at least eight 3 (five) , it was his breakdown of the video game routine before the game that moved the needle (for me) even more.
“I don’t want to divulge all my secrets,” Thompson said. “Before I even start my day, I get up, jump in my 65-degree pool to wake up. I am so happy that I even have a pool.
“I’m just playing with (my dog) Rocco. I play, maybe on Nintendo. I’m just trying not to watch basketball or basketball media. So I clear my mind, I just do other things that take my time and are fun. ”
Then I caught up with Thompson to get to the bottom of some of the video games of his existence. To be more specific, he plays on Nintendo 64 and quotes “Super Mario World” and “Super Smash Bros”. as his games of choice.
Speaking of nostalgia, Thompson and I discussed the fact that some of the stars they survived playing in this playoff cycle were just small when it all started with a victory over the Cavs in 2015.
First round against Denver: Nikola Jokic was only 20 years old when the Warriors won everything for the first time.
Second round against Memphis: Ja Morant was 15.
Conference Finals: Luka Doncic was 16 years old.
“It’s crazy,” Thompson said The athlete. “Now we’re like those guys I talked about, like the Spurs team we played for (in 2017), who were older but (good).”
Photo courtesy of Jim Poorten / NBA
Several explosions from the long-retired past began to cross his mind.
“B-Rush,” he began, quoting former warrior Brandon Rush. “David West. (Andrew) Bogut. Mo Spices. This is crazy. I miss these guys. When you win a championship with someone, you have that connection forever. That’s what we’re trying to do. “
On Thompson’s release, Warriors PR man Ray Reeder accompanied him to the Western Conference Championship trophy photos when apathy told him all about the end of the game here.
“Ray, we want the big trophy,” Thompson said, before reluctantly complying with the request.
Steph for trophy hunting
Adhering to the theme of trophies here, Curry was not much about the intricacies of clothing.
His green suit said all about his state of mind these days: “Trophy Hunt,” read the logo on his chest.
As Nick DePaula from ESPN pointed out on Twitter, the Warriors star had also chosen to wear the same Curry 5 shoe she wore during the 2018 finals, in which Golden State defeated Cleveland in the finals on the way to her last title. The clothes were there for everyone to see after the game, as Curry sat among reporters for about 15 minutes while Draymond Green held the court with the press and his teammate waited his turn on the podium.
(The Athletic)
And then, after winning first prize for MVP in the Western Conference Finals at Magic Johnson, despite his unequal exit in the final, Curry faced a question that could have made him much more uncomfortable than he could have been. We have highlighted the awkward part for you.
Last year, there was probably a measure of individual satisfaction to return to that level of MVP after the injury you had. How hard is it to stick to a champion mindset instead of just going back and holding back the franchise for it? Second, how does it feel to win an MVP trophy after the season?
The unspoken reality that is mentioned, of course, is that the lack of an MVP trophy in Curry’s finals continues to be a point of focus when discussing his legacy. After answering the first question, Curry accepted the second calmly.
“Yes, the new trophy is pretty cool, especially with the name of the standard (s) that Magic has set for being a champion and playing as a defender, whatever other position he plays; just the excellence he has shown throughout his career, “said Curry, who averaged 23.8 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds in the series, but missed 12 of 17 shots and had only 15 points in the final (although was a plus-11). “Definitely special. I appreciate the way my teammates celebrated with me. Like I said, this recognition, six out of eight (final appearances), (the ability) to play in another final, I mean, what else would you like? I’m excited about another opportunity to go get one. “
On the way out, I asked Curry where she planned to watch Boston’s attempt to finish the Eastern Finals against Miami in Game 6 on Friday.
“The manger,” he said with a smile.
In other words, the loot goes to the winner. Avoiding a return to Dallas for Game 6 on Saturday, the Warriors won a six-day break at home between the end of the Western Conference finals and the start of the finals on Thursday.
Luke and the long view of Dallas
It is easy to forget that Luka Doncic is 23 (as of February 28). The Mavericks star is so elite, and his production is so historic, that you would swear he’s been doing it in the NBA for a decade.
But since his fourth season ends much deeper in the postseason than almost everyone had anticipated, it’s worth remembering that he’s (still) just starting. And the fact that he has great confidence in the Mavericks program – the one in which he contacted coach Jason Kidd during their first season together – is a promising sign for all involved.
Especially given the five-year $ 207 million expansion it signed last summer, it starts next season.
“I mean, great,” Doncic said when asked about his views on Mavericks’ ability to eventually become NBA champions again. “It simply came to our notice then. I think we are a young team. … I think this year we have made a huge, huge step, maybe a few steps. I think we are in a great way. There are obviously a lot of things to do, but I think, as I said, we have taken a huge step and I think we are on a great path. “
In terms of the Mavs’ most pressing off-season issues, Jalen Brunson’s free agency is the biggest of them all. But while team members continued to express optimism in this regard, Brunson himself did not give much indication of how he sees it.
“When it’s time, it’s time,” he told the free agency. “For me, I’m just – when it happens, it happens. I’m not worried about that right now. Honestly, at this point, how I feel, I’m really happy to have to play with these guys, and the things we’ve done this year is all I’m focused on right now and thinking about. I’ll think about it later. “
From Doncic to Dirk and … Chet Holmgren?
If you throw Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs shirt, I swear he can still give them about 15 minutes. He looks almost the same as during this legendary two-decade playing career that bound him to the Hall of Fame. Maybe the dynamic duo Doncic and Dirk?
No chance.
Instead, the retired 43-year-old was on hand in streetwear as part of his role as a special adviser to the team, which began last summer. And after spending time talking to everyone, from Mavs owner Mark Kuban to Doncic and many others around him, Nowitzki took some time to meet a young player who may soon be on the scene: a star of Gonzaga and eventual No. 1 pick in the June 23 draft, Chet Holmgren.
While Nowitzki told me he didn’t watch too much college basketball, he said he was very familiar with Holmgren’s game.
“Super skilled,” said Nowitzki, whose Mavs will pick 26th. “But I didn’t realize he was that tall.”
See for yourself.
(The Athletic)
Holmgren was on hand with his newly elected agent, Bill Duffy of BDA Sports, who also represents Doncic. We then spoke briefly about his conversation with Nowitzki and the anticipation that is building as he nears the start of his own NBA career.
“It was crazy to meet someone so important to the game,” Holmgren told Nowitzki. “I think he’s one of those guys who started changing the NBA …
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