Tag: Warriors Rewind

Warriors Playoff Rewind: Draymond Green battles Damian Lillard in 2016 Western Conference Semifinals

Without Stephen Curry in the 2016 Western Conference Semifinals, Draymond Green exploded for his playoff career-high.

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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Warriors Rewind: Joe Fulks leads Philadelphia Warriors to 1947 championship over Chicago

Joe Fulks tallied 34 points against the Chicago Stags for the first BAA championship in 1947.

Long before Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green hoisted Larry O’Brien trophies in Oracle Arena, a championship foundation was built at the start of the Warriors organization.

Before the franchise moved to the Bay Area, the Philadelphia edition of the Warriors were winning hardware of their own. In 1947, the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America kicked off with 11 teams in two divisions.  

Eddie Gottlieb’s Warriors earned a playoff bid with a 35-25 record. After eliminating the St. Louis Bombers and New York Knicks, the Philadelphia Dubs faced the Western Division-leading Chicago Stags in the first-ever BAA Finals. 

The Warriors opened the series with a pair of decisive victories to give them a 2-0 lead. In game three, the Warriors stole a three-point road win, but in the fourth game of the series, they could not complete the sweep. After a one-point Chicago win in game four, the Warriors went back to Philadelphia for a chance to clinch the title on their home floor.

April 22, 1947

Philadelphia rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to be crowned champions with an 83-80 victory in game five of the 1947 BAA Finals. 

Future Hall of Famer Joe Fulks capped off his Finals run with 34 points on 10-of-34 shooting. The 1947 BAA scoring champion lived at the free-throw line, knocking down 14-of-18 attempts from the stripe against the Stags. 

View the box score from the Warriors first championship via Basketball Reference — here.

Via @WarriorsPR: 

The BAA championship from the 1946-47 inaugural season will forever be remembered alongside the Warriors five other title banners in San Francisco’s Chase Center. 

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Today in Warriors history: Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis put on a show at Oracle Arena in 2018

Before facing off in the playoffs, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis put on a show at the end of the 2017-18 regular season.

It’s been almost one month since the Golden State Warriors suited up for a regular-season game. With 17 games left on the schedule, the 2019-20 season was put on hold until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With no hoops on the radar, Warriors Wire is rewinding the clock back through Golden State’s history to find compelling matchups from the past.

Before each All-Star moved on to their new homes, Kevin Durant and the Warriors faced off against the Anthony Davis led New Orleans Pelicans.

April 7, 2018

In the final regular-season home game at Oracle Arena, five members of the Warriors squad were ruled out, including Stephen Curry, as the team prepared for a playoff run. However, one of the league’s most dynamic players was still in the lineup for Golden State.

Durant capped off Oracle’s regular season with 41 points on 16-on-26 shooting with 10 rebounds and five assists. Yet, the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player’s efficient double-double wasn’t enough against the gritty Pelicans.

Davis struck back with a double-double performance of his own. The Kentucky product tallied 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals against the defending champions. Another Kentucky alum, Rajon Rondo added 12 points and 17 assists in the Pelicans 126-120 win in Oakland.

Watch highlights from Durant’s 41 point effort against New Orleans via House of Highlights via YouTube:

Although the Pelicans closed out Oracle Arena with an upset win, the Warriors got revenge in the playoffs. Golden State eliminated the Pelicans in the second round of the Western Conference postseason, 4-1.

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