Desperation and the Chase for Greatness
For as long as the league has been in existence, desperate NBA teams and desperate NBA players have provided some of the greatest moments and created some of the best storylines we’ve ever seen. That’s because, generally speaking, desperation is the human element that’s created more sports drama than perhaps any other.
Thursday’s Spurs-Warriors “Greatest Game Ever of the Week of the Month of the Year” was cloaked in desperation for Golden State, despite its regular-season status. Not in the sense it would have any effect on their ability to win a title — there are certainly different levels of desperation — but they care deeply about beating the Bulls 72-10 record. Don’t listen to Draymond Green’s comments following the team’s loss at home to the Timberwolves earlier in the week — though he said they were “bored,” not that they didn’t care.
The Warriors have had the largest margin for error of any team in the league all season. Their breakneck style of play and bombs-away method of scoring is so devastating they can afford to take risks and be extraordinarily aggressive at times. On Thursday, their margin for error at tip was suddenly nonexistent. One more loss, and the record would no longer be in reach.
It ended in a comfortable 112-101 victory for Golden State after a tense and sloppy first quarter. The Oracle Arena meteor shower was in full effect for about 30 of the game’s 48 minutes. San Antonio’s defense, while strong early, began to leak holes, and the team seemingly lost energy after LaMarcus Aldridge left late in the first with the pinky on his shooting hand bent at a 90-degree angle. (Side note: After LMA’s reaction to the dislocation and the subsequent scramble to foul the Warriors and stop the clock in order to remove him from the game, you could feel the “oh s***” reaction pummel you through the television screen. It was like air spewing out of a black-and-silver balloon.)
At that point it felt like the Spurs lost steam, while the Warriors went on the attack. And once the levee breaks against that team, might as well start pumping up the life raft and float along with the ride.
This isn’t meant to be a breakdown of the game — you probably saw it, and you can get recaps anywhere — but, man, did the Dubs adjust to the way San Antonio attacked them defensively in March. Curry was just driving past aggressive defenders at will and not meeting much resistance around the rim, and all the other shooters were amazingly efficient relief valves. It was what the Spurs dared them to do, and they sure as hell did it well. Meanwhile, the San Antonio struggled mightily to score, as it had in the two meetings prior to this one. The adjustments have been and will be fun to watch, but I digress…
What made Thursday night so fun was the tension. An all-time great team playing for a record against another historically great team with zero room for error. The difference was, the Spurs weren’t desperate, and that’s what gives Sunday’s matchup such immense potential. San Antonio knew the Warriors weren’t going to lose out; it felt foolish to even consider the possibility of capturing the top seed, even if it was still technically there. What makes the next one so exciting is, barring any injury or ridiculous Golden State loss in Memphis, they’re both going to be playing for something big.
The Spurs — even though they’re going to say they don’t care because they want to appear to be robots — are vying to become the first team in NBA history to ever go undefeated at home (and by the way, they’re basically sitting everyone in Denver…Pop may be starting at point guard). And unless you’re living under a rock in another galaxy somewhere that’s potentially been destroyed by Planet Nine, you know about the Warriors’ chase for the best record ever.
This isn’t to say anything we’ve seen from Golden State against San Antonio in the two games at Oracle is a fluke. The Warriors might be the best we’ve ever seen — a thermonuclear buzz saw that may eventually prove to be unstoppable. The Spurs, while not far behind, have old legs; and when the defending champs get rolling, and the pace and momentum of the game begins to snowball in their direction, there’s very little you can do, regardless of who you are.
We have not yet reached peak levels of NBA drama — that comes in May and June. But for a day, there’s more at stake for two teams in one regular-season game than I can really remember. Sure, there’s always been drama in the final days before the postseason. But this isn’t about two teams battling for a final playoff spot, or two players going after a scoring title; this is about historical greatness at the highest level.
Desperation and pride have produced so many great moments in the history of this league. Let’s hope there will be another addition to the highlight reel.
Well, at least to tide us over until May.
