Celtics will have a golden opportunity against unbeaten Warriors
Draymond Green (right) and Stephen Curry still haven’t lost this season.
COMMENTARY
With one caveat, I want to see these delightful Golden State Warriors, winners of their first 23 games this season and undefeated in the best basketball league in the world since June, eclipse the 1971-72 Lakers’ longstanding record 33-game winning streak.
I want to see Stephen Curry’s band of merry 3-point bombers win at least 73 games, topping the relentless but far less joyful 1995-96 Bulls’ record 72-10 mark.
Hell, while we’re pondering the impossible becoming possible, why not – again, with that single caveat — just root for them to run the table? Eighty-two wins without a loss? It will never happen. It can’t happen. But that possibility of it happening can’t be eliminated yet. So why not indulge in the daydream?
I’m indulging. Man, in the name of Joe Barry Carroll, I’m indulging. Aren’t you? Who could resist appreciating this as it unfolds in real time? The Warriors, who will bring that 23-0 mark to the Garden Friday, are the golden boys of American sports at the moment. Nationally, their games upstage the NFL slate on Sundays. They steal headlines from the winter meetings blockbusters. At this place and time, they are America’s team.
And that’s how it should be. If you don’t like this team, you don’t like basketball, or sports, or joy, or unicorns, or anything, and you especially don’t like swished 30-foot jumpers off a cross-over dribble that barely tickle the twine.
If you don’t like this team, I can only assume it must be personal. Draymond Green stole your girl at Michigan State, or Andrew Bogut stole your Foster’s at the bar, or your name is Andre and so it drives you nuts that Andre Iguodala got the “@andre’’ Twitter handle, or something. Otherwise, there is no resisting the Warriors’ irresistible, beautiful music. They’re a popular band even the most condescending music connoisseur can’t help but admit to loving.
With apologies to the San Antonio Spurs, who feature a refined, lovely style of their own and are boring only to the unimaginative and unappreciative among us, the Warriors play the most beautiful brand of basketball since the 1985-86 Celtics moved the ball like this:
[fragment number=0]
Like those Celtics, these Warriors encourage selflessness and inspire pure enjoyment, something that is too often in short supply in professional sports nowadays. They were crowned champions in June, and rather than chilling on their throne and getting plump on the spoils, they came back better, in part because superstar Stephen Curry has become truly transcendent. He has become Allen Iverson if Allen Iverson also possessed a jump shot Ray Allen might envy.
I should note that the indulgence only goes so far. I bought my tickets – Section 328, about five rows from the back wall – the day they went on sale. I’ve been anticipating the Warriors’ visit ever since. My daughter, 11, loves Curry, because everyone who is 11 loves Curry. She has marching orders, however, to wear her Paul Pierce jersey.
Which brings us around to that aforementioned caveat.
Sure, it would be incredible to witness the Warriors achieving all of those milestones and records that belong to another franchise for the time being. But for one night, I’m not rooting for them. Friday night, I’m pulling for the home team to knock them off. And I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that the Celtics put that 1 in the Warriors’ loss column.
Why? Well, despite the whimsical thoughts of going 82-0, someone is going to do it. The Warriors have buried most opponents, scoring at least 100 points in every game, more than 120 six times, and more than 130 three times, including Tuesday night’s 131-123 win over the Pacers. But they also needed overtime to beat the Nets on November 14, and defeated the Jazz by just 3 points on November 30. There are tough games and surprising losses even during extraordinary seasons. One of the 1995-96 Bulls’ losses came to a 35-win Nuggets team.
The Warriors may be dealing with some issues of attrition when they arrive in Boston. Harrison Barnes has missed six games with an ankle injury, and toward the end of his 39-point performance Tuesday, Klay Thompson rolled an ankle. X-Rays were negative, but it didn’t look good, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Splash Brothers reduced to a single sibling come Friday.
That would obviously benefit the Celtics. And they’re not a bad matchup as it is. Avery Bradley has agitated Curry before – in March 2013, he held him to 6 for 22 shooting in a 94-86 Celtics win at the Garden. Curry wasn’t the same then; neither were the Warriors (Green played fewer minutes than Andris Biedrins). But there is a history, and some of it is in Bradley’s favor.
If Jae Crowder can defend Green … and Jared Sullinger has one of his 21-point, 14-rebound gems … and Brad Stevens outwits relative novice Luke Walton … and Isaiah Thomas goes for an efficient 27 points … and Kelly Olynyk doesn’t upfake before every open shot and even hits a few … and Curry continues his horrific, shameful slump at the free throw line (he’s missed five the past two games) … and Marcus Smart makes a miracle comeback … and Larry Bird loans Paul George to the Celtics for the night … and a few bounces and a few whistles go their way … well, they have a chance.
They do, even without borrowing George.
I’m not saying they’re going to win. But they have a chance.
Really, that’s all you can ask for. Because if you’ve been mesmerized by these champion Warriors, you know the truth: Rarely are even such simple requests granted.
33 awesome Larry Bird photos you won’t remember
[bdc-gallery id=”146679″]
Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com