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 have been 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. Golden State assured itself a playoff spot with a 105-89 win over the Minnesota Grizzlies on April 9, but with three games left in the season, their first-round opponent is still undetermined. As of April 12, the Warriors are the sixth seed and would face the three seed Denver Nuggets, though Golden State could end up facing the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, or Memphis Grizzlies, as well.
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, Jarrett Jack, 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, and Jack is challenging for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. But it’s been Curry that’s had fans in the Bay Area buzzing most, as he’s emerged as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. Curry leads the team 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 point guard will look to showcase his skills when play begins for the NBA Playoffs 2013.
