As the clock ran out on game six this past week of the NBA Finals the only audible noise within the storied Garden were the emphatic screams of Steph Curry and Co. as they clinched an unprecedented fourth title in eight years, humbling a talented, young Celtics squad and quieting a city other than Cleveland for a change. The first three had come at King James’s expense until he willed himself past them in the 2016 finale. The following 2018 finals appearance was thwarted by Kawhi and Drake becoming what was thought as the beginning of the end for the “Dubs” dynasty. Injuries, bad luck and Kevin Durant would contribute to the next four years of misery, losing and suddenly wondering if they could ever regain their championship form. Head coach Steve Kerr called this title the most “unlikely” one he has ever been a part of. Considering this is his ninth championship as both a player and coach really speaks volumes to how special this year truly was.
Led by a now stronger, battle-hardened Steph Curry with both Klay Thompson and Draymond Green finally healthy, the trio plus Iguodala were joined by a talented, young bench that culminated in Beantown this past Thursday. The visible emotion from Curry as the buzzer sounded was a much different kind than any of the three previous that included teams that owned every single NBA regular and post season record imaginable, stomping on the western conference seemingly at will. This one meant more. By miles. The collection of his first ever NBA Finals MVP capped the dream season that it was for the Chef. Obliterating Ray Allen’s all-time three-point record at a blitzkrieg pace and regaining his fellow splash brother this past fall brought jubilation to the Bay City and concern to everyone else in the league, all now looking over their shoulder again. As the regular season ended, they boasted not only a healthy roster but also a new commitment to defense and not relying so heavily on the shooting of their stars as they finished third overall defensively in the league. The hard work and belief in each other paid off as they systematically dismantled Denver, Memphis, Dallas and finally Boston all teams with talented much younger starters than the Warriors.
The trials and tribulations both on and off the court during the previous four years added a new dimension of mental toughness carved out of wood that was on full display throughout the playoffs. The mentality became infectious as time and time again someone would step up other than the original Dubs on the floor. The supporting cast of Wiggins, Poole, Green, Payton and Looney who embraced their roles, created a locker-room vibe that was sorely missed. The drama within now a non-factor allowed them to focus on just basketball and each other. The facts were clear. The team for whatever reason had not made the playoffs the last two seasons and had not won a title in three. Scarred, smarter and stronger they returned to the coveted month of June and did what they said they would do. Draymond talked shit and backed it up per usual. Klay sniped threes with Chris Kyle like precision and Steph graduated to elite status with his MVP performance. Impressive and as rare as a fourth star from Michelin’s guide to restaurants, his four NBA rings denote a truly master Chef status.
For Crismond
“He left no doubt. He carried us.”
—Draymond Green
The Modern Renaissance Man 
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