It took six, long years, but the Golden State Warriors finally made it back to the NBA Playoffs, and of all the Western Conference teams to clinch a berth in 2013, Golden State certainly turned the most heads in the process. Under head coach Mark Jackson, the Warriors (47-35) were the story of the NBA season, switching from a perennial lottery team to contenders by digging in on defense, attacking the boards, and scoring over 100 points per game. With the No. 6 spot secured, Golden State is set to take on the No. 3 Denver Nuggets (57-25) in the first round of the playoffs, and Game 1 is scheduled for April 20 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. The Nuggets won three of the four games the teams played against each other this season, but with Danilo Gallinari out with a torn ACL and Kenneth Faried hobbling with a sprained ligament in his left ankle, this could be the perfect time for the Warriors to pounce.
The last time that Golden State fans had the honor of purchasing Warriors playoff tickets was in 2007, when the team rode Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Jason Richardson to the Western Conference semifinals. Thankfully, along with Jackson’s new coaching philosophies, the Warriors have transformed the team through the draft, trades, free agency, and the development of players like David Lee, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry. Lee made his second career All-Star team in 2013, while Thompson remains one of the top shooters in the league, but it’s been Curry that’s had fans in the Bay Area buzzing most. In addition to setting the NBA record for most three pointers made in a season (272), Curry has emerged as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. He led the Warriors in scoring, assists, and steals, and experienced a breakout game on Feb. 27 with 54 points against the New York Knicks inside Madison Square Garden. Now, the fourth-year star will showcase his skills against the Nuggets during the NBA Playoffs 2013.
