Hoops Habit
Fansided

2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 19: Wizards hold a lead, the only thing that can stop the Warriors and Gordon Bae-ward

By Gerald Bourguet

May 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
2017 NBA Playoffs
May 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The only thing that can stop the Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are firing on all cylinders. The Golden State Warriors are undefeated in their last 21 of their last 22 games. And minus their head coach, the Golden State Warriors are completely healthy.

No offense to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the only team that can stop the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Playoffs is the Golden State Warriors.

To be perfectly honest, this isn’t anything new; it was the same exact case last year. As much as Cavs fans/Warriors detractors hate to admit it, the 2016 NBA Finals probably would’ve ended differently if not for Stephen Curry‘s injury a few weeks before, Draymond Green‘s Game 5 suspension or Andrew Bogut‘s season-ending injury in Game 5 (as if admitting those things somehow takes away from the unbelievable things LeBron did in that series).

Aside from injuries or Stephen Curry/Klay Thompson curling up into a ball in the Finals again, the Dubs are hands down the title favorites.

In Game 2 against the Jazz though, Warriors fans got a brief, frightening reminder of how fragile a postseason run can be when Draymond Green went down with an apparent knee injury and stayed down for a few minutes.

Green was able to walk to the locker room under his own power, the injury was called a “knee tweak” and he was able to return and finish the game. He didn’t look to be hobbled or in pain, so for the time being, it appears as though the Warriors dodged a bullet.

But as dominant as the Dubs have been, and as inevitable as another ring might feel, Game 2 served as a reminder that there’s a reason they play the games. A healthy Golden State team is the safest bet to win the 2017 Larry O’Brien trophy, but if anyone should know how quickly championship expectations can unravel, it should be these Warriors.