For eight years, the Warriors always found an escape door.
Down 2–1 against a physical Memphis team? Ah, just stick Andrew Bogut on Tony Allen. Down 2–1 to LeBron James in the Finals? Let Stephen Curry run the Cavs ragged. Down 3–1 to the Thunder? Klay Thompson will soon solidify his Game 6 legend. Down 3–2 to the Rockets? Force a Game 7 and watch them miss 27 threes in a row. Down 2–1 to the Celtics? Curry can simply remind everyone he’s one of the greatest players of all time.
Throughout the past eight years, whenever the Warriors—at full strength—were pushed against the ropes, they bounced back and delivered the knockout themselves. Not this time. Golden State was eliminated Friday at the hands of LeBron James and the Lakers. It was the Warriors’ first playoff series loss to a Western Conference opponent under coach Steve Kerr, having entered the series 19–0. Since 2015, Golden State was also 8–2 when facing elimination, both losses coming in the Finals, one of which was without Klay. For the first time since this dynasty began in earnest—when Kerr, Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green joined forces in 2015—the Warriors have lost a series in which their star trio played every game.
