Warriors’ thunderous win sends timely message to front office

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Warriors’ thunderous win sends timely message to front office originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With eight days remaining before the NBA trade deadline, the Warriors’ shot callers are in the final stages of assessing whether they have the resources and audacity needed to deal their way into the same neighborhood as the Western Conference elite.

Which makes a visit Wednesday night from the Oklahoma City Thunder particularly timely. They’re rolling through the West like gangsters in tanks armed with grenades, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

This game would give the Warriors an idea of how much distance lies between them and the top of the conference.

The answer: Not as much as the standings indicate when Golden State’s defense shows up as it did after the first quarter.

That drowsy start left the Warriors trailing by 14 early in the second quarter before they pushed the Thunder to the edge and, down the stretch, shoved them over for a 116-109 victory that electrified the sellout crowd (18,064) at Chase Center.

“When we come out with the right intentions, the right energy, the right mindset,” said Gary Payton II, who contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and a spectacular punctuating dunk with 1:03 remaining, “we can compete with anybody.”

The Warriors (24-23) are in 11th place in the West, 13.5 games behind the first-place Thunder (37-9). They’re not going to catch them no matter what transpires by noon on Feb. 6. Too much ground to cover.

But it matters that the Warriors took down the NBA’s most impressive team for the second time in three games to win the season series. It reminds them of what’s possible.

This is significant because it sends a message to a locker room growing anxious as trade speculation heats up, with Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Payton being mentioned as potentially available in trade.

This is significant because it sends a message to an active front office. General manager Mike Dunleavy and his crew, with CEO Joe Lacob prominently featured, are in Cyber Monday mode. They’re shopping with deliberate intent, according to league sources,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-thunderous-win-sends-timely-232220669.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-01-29 23:22:00

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