LOS ANGELES — Golden State’s 3-point freestyle play changed the NBA and made Stephen Curry a household name. But on Friday night, the team couldn’t muster one last crushing wave of deep shooting, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Lakers won Game 6, 122-101.
It was one of the most anticipated matches in years, pitting Curry against Lakers superstar LeBron James for the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals, when James was on the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the series ultimately didn’t quite match the hype, with blowouts in Games 2, 3, and 5 after a thrilling Lakers win to open the series.
In Game 6, Golden State looked out of sorts from the start. The Lakers opened the game 24-9. Golden State player Klay Thompson missed nine of his first 10 shots. Curry missed four of the first five. Then, just before halftime, Austin Reeves sent a desperate last-second shot from the Lakers, into the Crypto.com Arena in a frenzy, and Los Angeles took the lead in the second half by 10 points. In the third quarter, James led the drive to extend the lead to 19 and the Lakers were in tight control going into the fourth quarter. Golden State never recovered.
This means that Golden State’s dynasty — four championships since 2015 behind Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green — may be at an end, or at least on the verge of a turnaround. With one of the most expensive rosters in the league, and a new collective bargaining agreement intended to rein in hard spenders, the Golden State will likely try to cut costs. It could be a stark turnaround for the team, given that it’s gone from a middle-of-the-road franchise to one of the most financially valuable with Curry at the helm over the past decade.
But this season has been a motto for Golden State. It finished at 44-38 for the sixth seed in the Western Conference and was one of the Worst road records in the leagueat 11-30.
But there were moments when the team was able to dig up old shows.
Curry had one of the best games of his career in the first round of the playoffs. Golden State faced the third-ranked Kings in Sacramento in a decisive Game 7. Curry scored 50 points—the most ever in a Game 7—and hit seven 3-pointers. It was a reminder of the magic that made his team so great.
In the Conference Semifinals, against the seventh-ranked Lakers, Golden State had home court advantage. But losing Game 1 at home set the tone for the series. While Golden State looked dominant in Games 2 and 5, both at home, Game 4 was a series turnaround: Golden State uncharacteristically committed several sloppy errors down the stretch, dropping the team into an uphill 3-1 hole in the series.
It was ultimately too much for Golden State to handle.
The series was a reminder: It’s hard to stay on top for too long.
Green, a four-time All-Star, has a player option for next year and is expected to test free agency. He had one Better seasons this year But on the thirty-fourth of next March, Golden State may refuse to offer him a maximum contract. Green showed a penchant for reckless behaviour, such as hitting teammate Jordan Paul in training camp, and had the second most technical fouls in the league in the regular season.
Thompson, a five-time All-Star, still has his moments when he appears to be one of the best shooters in NBA history, but at 33 years old and after two major injuries, Significantly slowed down in defense. His contract expires after the next season.
Golden State will also have to decide what to do with its young players, whom the team has attempted to develop while chasing a championship – a path that has been criticized for placing too much of a burden on the 35-year-old Curry. In particular, Paul, the 23-year-old guard, struggled mightily in the playoffs, which is a less-than-ideal scenario given that Golden State signed him in Contract extension for four years in October, with a value of up to $140 million. Other young players, such as Jonathan Cuminga and Moses Moody, both aged 20, have been in and out of the squad all season.
In addition to holding General Manager Bob Myers for the past decade, This year ends. The transfer of the dynasty to its next stage may fall to a different architect.