After being severely tested by the promising Sacramento Kings, even losing for the first two games of the first-round series on the road, the Golden State Warriors relied on their battle-tested DNA to completely own Game 7 on Sunday, 120-100, behind the historic 50-point performance of Stephen Curry.
And as they move now to the second-round, what awaits them is truly a familiar foe and rival – LeBron James, who is leading his Los Angeles Lakers troop back towards relevance.
“They’re totally a different team since the trade deadline,” Curry said in his ESPN postgame interview. “If you watched their series against Memphis, they’re playing unbelievable. All their pieces fit so it’s gonna be a huge test for us.”
Los Angeles, the seventh-seed of the Western Conference, dispatched the feisty, highly energetic Memphis Grizzlies team in a six-game, first-round encounter. James’ leadership alongside Anthony Davis was already expected even before the matchup started, but what stood up the most for them were their complementing units powered by D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
These supporting cast went on to help James, Davis and the Lakers to historically flip their season around. After starting 2022-23 with a dreadful 2-10 card, they went on to blaze for a robust midseason push and posted a 17-9 record since the Feb. 9 trade deadline – the second-best mark in their Conference – to fully allow themselves to nail a Play-In spot and eventually a Playoff seat.
“Two series in a row we’re playing California teams. Kind of dope,” he said.
The upcoming matchup definitely means another James-Warriors saga.
James and Golden State defined the NBA’s modern rivalry, specifically from the last decade. Carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back, the future hall of famer went toe-to-toe and boldly fought the dynastic Warriors for four-straight NBA Finals. For 22 total championship games from 2015 to 2018, both sides went on to produce some of the well-known indelible moments in league history.
Their storied connection was halted when James decided to pack his bag and leave for Los Angeles in 2018 offseason. And after five years, who would have thought that the roads led them back to where they belong – another classic showdown for the ages.
It’s been a long time coming, but Curry is fully in awe of the fact that their contending level remains the same after what they already carved in the basketball record books as old war buddies.
“You don’t take anything for granted. It is special to know [to face James again]. From the first series we played him in Cleveland for ’14-15 season to now, we’re blessed to be playing at this level still and [I’m] excited about a new chapter,” Curry said in his postgame.
“Two teams trying to keep their season alive and chase the championship. That’s what it’s all about.”
Five seasons already made significant changes, sustained battle scars and have added lucrative achievements for both James and Curry. As the two of the most important basketball figures in the current era now wears their respective fourth title ring, the hunt is on for them this year to still be in the race for that coveted fifth championship.
That all starts on Tuesday, as both of them are set to collide for a star-studded, highly anticipated Conference Semifinals face-off.
