The Warriors have finally come out of the trough this season, stuck in the mud after five years of triple crown glory, and struggled for two seasons that can't be looked back. The departing figure of Kevin Durant, with a not-so-heavy but long-lasting sigh from the Dynasty team, seems to know that all this will eventually pass, and life will return to the track familiar to the Warriors.
Two seasons later, the Warriors did not look beyond recognition, time benevolently gifted the former dynasty master who was tortured by the change - Klay Thompson returned to the team, Drummond Green found himself again, Stephen Curry's face was as smiling as ever, and the Warriors were still the Warriors. By the way, Iguodala also returned to his hometown after a long wandering.
What keeps this team highly cohesive? Curry's leadership is definitely worth mentioning.
Stephen Curry does not give the impression of a top-notch player, which is not unrelated to his personality, compared with LeBron James, Chris Paul and others, Curry is too "kind" to his teammates. Curry is not without leadership, but his leadership style is unique, more often relying on personality charm.
If you think about it, what do those who left the Warriors say about Curry?
David West gave a media interview more than a year ago, recalling some of his past with the Warriors, and he told how Curry treated his teammates so selflessly that West had to remind Curry to be selfish. Curry just smiled at West, he wouldn't change his approach, he just wanted to be more comfortable playing in the game.
"He's trying very hard to make everybody comfortable and Curry knows that Klay (Thompson) wants to score and increase the number of shots because that's how Clay plays; he knows that Drummond [Green] wants to have the ball so he can play tactics; of course KD also needs his own time with the ball." West said.
So, how can Curry not be loved?
It's easy to think of Curry coming off the bench against the Nuggets, and if the first game was played off the bench because he came back from injury and then played three games from the bench, you can see Curry's pattern - he wants everyone to play comfortably. Jordan Poole did a good start, and Klay Thompson found the rhythm.
Bob Myers, the team's general manager, said that is not something that anyone can do.
Curry's sacrifices have had an impact on the team, and Wiggins was recently asked, "When Stephen Curry returns to the starting lineup, someone will inevitably be a substitute. Wiggins replied: "It's the playoffs and I think you have to let go of your pride and make some sacrifices for the win." ”
Such a mentality will undoubtedly be more important, the Warriors lineup does not lack offensive players, so it needs others to be able to do their job on the defensive end and try to make up for the shortcomings in the lineup. This is a playoff team, and the playoffs test not only the strength of the team, but also the trust, willpower and morale between the players.
Wiggins averaged 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in four playoff games and shot 54.8 percent from the field. In the five small squads used by Kerr, Wiggins played a crucial role on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends.
(Text/Yan Wujun)