With their game 2 victory, the Golden State Warriors became the first team in NBA history to achieve a 14-0 postseason record. If they capture the next two games in Cleveland, they can extend that record; they’d be a perfect 16-0 in the playoffs, which would be an incredible feat. The Warriors say that they aren’t looking ahead to that goal; they just want to win the series:
Asked Draymond Green if GSWs circled 16-0 as a goal. "Naw, we made that mistake by circling 73 and worrying about the wrong thing before…
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) June 6, 2017
More Draymond: "I just want to win four games. A championship is history. That's really the only history we need."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) June 6, 2017
Last season, the Warriors broke that 73-win season record but expended too much energy doing it. By the time they got to the finals, they were battered and tired. Stephen Curry was visibly playing injured. Andrew Bogut was out for the series. The Cavaliers capitalized, coming from behind (yay 3-1 jokes) to win the Finals.
This time around, Green and the Warriors are clearly cognizant of overexerting themselves chasing a record.
Head coach Steve Kerr echoed Green’s sentiment:
Steve Kerr on the prospect of 16-0: "We literally have never once mentioned 16-0. To me it's a miracle that it's even a possibility."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) June 6, 2017
The Warriors seem to have their priorities in order, but there’s no way that they aren’t thinking – even a little bit – about 16-0. It’s so close, it has to at least be in the back of their minds.
