Golden State Warriors’ playoff campaign ended in disappointment as they were beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, sealing the Lakers’ 4-2 series victory in style with a 122-101 win. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was quick to praise his team’s “guts and fortitude” on display despite the loss.
Kerr also acknowledged that his team had exceeded expectations, saying: “To be fair, I think this team ultimately maxed out. We were barely in the playoff picture most of this year. This is not a championship team.”
Steve Kerr had this to say after the Warriors were eliminated from the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/TLaoNTRWnd
— ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2023
Despite the loss, Warriors’ star player Steph Curry put up an impressive 32 points in the final game, showing that his individual effort was not enough to prevent the loss. Curry expressed his opinion by stating, “And that’s what getting beat in a playoff series is.”
Looking ahead, Curry added: “From training camp to now, it was just the reality we were living in. We were trying to keep things positive and optimistic around what we were trying to accomplish this year, but there’s also an understanding that this is not good enough.”
While the Warriors look ahead to the new season, the Lakers probably will turn their attention to the Denver Nuggets, who powered past the Phoenix Suns. With the victory, the Lakers are now 3/1 favorites to win the NBA championship.
Despite the loss, Kerr’s comments show that the Warriors are proud of their effort and have nothing to hang their heads about. Kerr praised the team’s effort and noted that they came close to recapturing what they had, but fell just short.
As for the Lakers, LeBron James and his squad will be looking to continue their momentum into the next round of the playoffs. They have already shown that they are capable of beating top teams and will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming games.
With the Miami Heat waiting to take on either the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers, it’s clear that the playoff picture is heating up and anything can happen in the coming games. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the next round of playoff matchups to see who comes out on top and earns the chance to compete for the coveted NBA championship.
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The End of an Era: How the NBA’s New CBA Spells Doom for the Golden State Warriors’ Dynasty
The NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to have a significant impact on the Golden State Warriors’ ability to maintain their current roster and compete at their current level. The most significant change is the lowering of the apron, which will make it much harder for the Warriors to add new talent through free agency or trades.
This, coupled with harsher penalties for exceeding the luxury-tax line, means that the Warriors will have limited options to improve their team and stay competitive.
Currently, the Warriors have over $160 million committed to just four players for the 2023-24 season, leaving little room to add significant talent. The new CBA’s harsher penalties for exceeding the luxury-tax line will also make it more challenging for the team to maintain its current roster. The Warriors will likely be subject to the “repeater tax” if they exceed the line by more than $20 million, making it even more punitive for them.
Despite the challenges, the Warriors still have a formidable core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, it will be harder for them to add complementary pieces necessary to win championships. With nearly $179.4 million in guaranteed salary on their books for next season, the Warriors are already close to the second apron’s limit, leaving them with little room to make any significant moves.
In conclusion, the NBA’s new CBA is likely to end the Golden State Warriors dynasty. While they still have a talented core, the harsher penalties and lower apron will limit their ability to add new talent and stay competitive. The Warriors will need to find innovative ways to manage their payroll and build a championship-caliber team under these new constraints.
