With a massive victory against the Celtics in Game 5, the Warriors are just one victory away from becoming the fourth time NBA Finals champion since 2015.
The Warriors have finally changed the trend in NBA 2022 Finals by registering a remarkable victory in Game 5. Early on, both sides were winning games one after the other and the Celtics were more likely to win the Game 5. However, the Warriors registered their second consecutive victory last night to lead the Finals, 3-2.
The highest number of playoff victories
The core trio have once again amazed the audience with their terrific performance and have already made history. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green registered their 20th playoff win together in the previous matchup against the Boston Celtics, 107-97. The achievement broke the NBA benchmark for most Finals wins by a trio within the last three decades. They have surpassed Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili of San Antonio, who had a combined total of 19 Finals wins and four crowns.
Klay Thompson said:
“Those three are some of the greatest to ever play. I feel like they played my whole life, my whole childhood. To be mentioned in the same company as them, it’s humbling.”
He further added: “It won’t mean much unless we get another win. That’s awesome, but it would really add to our legacy if we closed this thing out.”
The Warriors’ backbone earned their first Finals game over LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in June 2015. It is still remembered as their first appearance in the Finals in six years.
Five successive victories
They appeared in five straight finals combined, losing in the 2016 finals after a 3-1 lead, and then bringing it back in 2017. They once again made a comeback in 2018 with Kevin Durant to beat the Cavs. Also, in 2018, they had just won their fifth game in a row and were on their way to making history.
Their sixth Finals appearance was a disaster, with Durant tearing his Achilles in Game 5 and Thompson tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the series against the Toronto Raptors. Thompson’s ACL and Achilles injuries were rehabilitated the next season, and Curry fractured his hand in 2020, putting the trio on a two-year playoff break. Despite Thompson missing the first several months of the season while recovering, the three reformed strong this season. The Warriors are on their way to the Finals once again.
Curry, Thompson, and Green have the most wins of any NBA trio in just six playoff appearances. However, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Cooper of the 1980s Lakers won 22 games in eight Finals runs. During that time, the Showtime Lakers trio won five titles. The trio will have two opportunities in the upcoming matchups to surpass in terms of Finals wins and NBA championships.
Top performers from Game 5
Andrew Wiggins led the side with 26 crucial points, 2 assists and 13 rebounds. Among the three veterans, Klay Thompson becomes the highest points scorer with 21 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds. Stephen Curry also played vigorously to register 16 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds. Draymond Green didn’t have enough as he claimed only 8 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds.
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