Regardless of when the NBA season returns to action, the Golden State Warriors have no hope for a miraculous run to the playoffs. With 17 games remaining, the Warriors are the only team in the association officially eliminated from the 2020 playoff picture.
After taking five straight trips to the NBA Finals, the Warriors have racked up a heavy share of postseason memories. With no hoops on the schedule, Warriors Wire is looking back into Golden State’s playoff history to highlight standout performances and matchups worthy of a rewatch.
Since their rise to the top of the NBA mountain, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have linked up with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum for a bevy of thrilling battles. However, in 2016 it was Draymond Green’s night to lead the Warriors against the Portland Trail Blazers.
May 7, 2016
After knocking out the Houston Rockets in five games, the Golden State Warriors opened up the Western Conference Semifinals against the Trail Blazers without their MVP point guard. Stephen Curry suffered a grade one MCL strain in game four against the Rockets.
The Warriors kicked off their series with a pair of home wins before traveling to Portland. When the series turned to Rip City, Green exploded.
The Michigan State product racked up 37 points on 13-of-23 shooting. Green drilled 8-of-12 from beyond the arc with nine rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes. Green’s performance in Portland earned him new playoff career-high numbers in points and 3-pointers.
Despite Green’s career night, it wasn’t good enough for Lillard. Portland’s point guard responded with 40 points on 14-of-27 from the field with eight 3-pointers of his own. Lillard willed the Trail Blazers to their first win of the series, 120-108.
Watch highlights from Green and Lillard’s playoff battle via YouTube:
With Curry back in the lineup for game four, the Warriors eliminated Lillard and the Blazers in five games. Golden State advanced all the way through the playoffs before dropping game seven of the 2016 NBA Finals to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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