In the eye of the Oracle Arena last night the deadshot Dub Nation Warriors were dead eyes with the three once again.
BasketballBuzz headed across the Golden Gate to the Golden State of Oakland from the San Francisco future of this franchise, where the Pacific Splash Brothers of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 60. 30 points apiece to be specific as the ever hot Curry (playing when most, including interim coach Luke Walton, thought he was going to be sidelined) was making trick shot after trick shot like he was trying to beat a Harlem Globetrotter record, whilst Thompson was hitting anything but clay.
All this Bay Area water helped a seemingly battle weary Warriors team take the sting out of the Buzz City Hornets, 111 to 101.
Yet it was the third point of G.S.W.’s grande trois that really made headlines as this new day Run-TMC (Run-DTC anyone?) continued to show that these reigning NBA world champs still had the belt as the kings of the rock. Most improved, defender of the year and certainly an All-Star ballot spot for the T-Dot, Draymond Green notched his third straight triple-double, punctuated by two, two-handed power dunks. His 13, 15 and 10 moved him into the executive, exclusive company of 15 players and the only other Warriors since Tom Gola to achieve such a feat. It was Green’s day, Dray day and everybody in the Bay was celebrating.
“His consistency is off the charts”, Steph told press afterwards. “It’s amazing how he can impact the game”.
Speights 15 off the bench also paced a Warriors team that looked a little tired or complacent at times. Nobody was catching an early BART home to avoid the crowds last night. Even with Hornets Star Al Jefferson amongst others out, the dubs had a lot to handle with this good Charlotte team. Like Kemba Walker and Lamb’s 22, or Jeremy Lin’s hair…not to mention his clutch buckets. Charlotte cut a 12 points deficit to one before the Warriors answered back with another 12 point run. A 10 point cushion would seal a win more motel comfortable than Marriot.
You can save the candles because this was no blowout, but the league-best team still managed to extinguish and best a young, raw and hungry one ran by the most competitive and successful player to ever play this game, Michael Jordan. “We did some good things, but we did a lot of things that we shouldn’t have done as well”, said young, mature and oh so underrated Hornets star Kemba Walker in the post-game presser. As he kept repeating “we just have to be better” this effort in the face of losing speaks volumes for this All-Star and franchises future.
With the gold in the State of California the Warriors may be king, but turn your attention East to North Carolina and you may hear a lot of basketball buzzing in the Hornets’ nest.
Charlotte is ready to make a name for itself.
