The NBA preseason is the ultimate practice in hyperbole, as each bucket is made to look like a dozen, every rookie said to remind someone of Magic or Bird, and the stats of every high-priced free agent is placed under the most discerning of microscopes for inspection.
With the tip of the preseason, most people had their eyes peeled for the several things. Among them was the Golden State Warriors versus the Los Angeles Clippers.
Before we get off into it, we will concede that the score of 120-75 does jump off the page. After all, winning by damn near 50 points in any setting, and under any circumstance, is a task worthy of note. The preseason or not, the Golden State Warriors’ offense was cruising along like a finely tuned warp engine while the Los Angeles Clippers looked old and unprepared for the onslaught the Warriors put on them.
(Photo Credit: Mercury News)
It was almost as if the Warriors came out like they had something to prove after winning an NBA record 73 games last season. It was also a season that came to an an end with a whimper as the Warriors lost a 3-1 lead and gave up the ghost in the wake of a dogged and resilient charge from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the rest of that Cleveland Cavaliers rag-tag fleet in the NBA Finals. Durant, in turn, suffered a similar fate in the Western Conference Finals against the same Golden State squad, whose blue and gold colors now adorn his lanky frame.
This was a preseason game, but if it is a harbinger of things to come, then fans are in store for a one heckuva season. Durant chipped in a very balanced performance with 21 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in support of Klay Thompson’s 30 points on 6-9 from behind the arc.
2015 NBA MVP Steph Curry added 14 points, five assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes of action. Also worth noting is the total lack of energy and effort fielded by Los Angeles.
(Photo Credit: Mercury News)
So, what’s the true measure of what to expect from the Warriors this season? It’s hard to tell, but the Clippers, and the rest of the National Basketball Association, are probably wishing for the polar opposite of last night’s result.
