Page 21 - Aruba Today

SPORTS A21
Wednesday 17 February

Warriors chase history, teams chase Warriors in stretch run

BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
TORONTO (AP) — The Gold-
en State Warriors are chas-
ing history. Everyone else in
the NBA is chasing the War-
riors.
The defending champions
have been so dominant
that they could already be
a 50-win team this week-
end. And unless opponents
start figuring out a way to
slow Stephen Curry and
the league’s most potent
offense, they could be the
best team ever by the time
they’re done.
Curry and fellow All-Stars
Klay Thompson and Dray-
mond Green took time out
for fun in the first All-Star
Game held outside the
U.S., where Curry tossed in
the final points in the high-
est-scoring game ever with
a 42-footer to give the West
a 196-173 victory.

It won’t be long before Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) hugs Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after winning the three point
they get serious again. competition at the NBA all-star weekend in Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016.
“Yeah, obviously, Thursday,
Friday, when games start Associated Press
up, put our game face
back on and figure out how teams in the West, and a LeBron James dismissed a Warriors are unbeaten at headed for a second
we’re going to try to finish front-runner in the East that report this week that the home. They have won six in straight MVP award. Their
out the season strong and could pose the toughest Cavaliers were discussing a row even while Manu Gi- record-setting start to the
go after another champi- challenges to the Warriors. trading Kevin Love, saying nobili is recovering from sur- season brought unusually
onship,” Curry said. San Antonio, Oklahoma they had enough to win af- gery, as star offseason ac- high attention to the NBA’s
They are 48-4 and will bring City and Cleveland seem ter a turbulent first half that quisition LaMarcus Aldridge pre-Christmas schedule,
an 11-game winning streak to have the best chances included the firing of coach looks more comfortable and a strong finish and a
into Portland on Friday to prevent Golden State David Blatt not long after playing for his new team. chance at 73 wins would
when their season resumes. from repeating, though the Kyrie Irving had returned “We’ve been winning and do the same during March
Golden State could reach Warriors blew out the Spurs from knee surgery. we’re putting ourselves in a Madness.
50 wins — for many clubs, and Cavaliers last time they “Every piece that we have position to be special,” Al- The record would be nice.
the mark of a very good met. means a lot to the pro- dridge said. “So that’s what The Warriors would prefer
regular season — with a cess,” James said. “Obvi- it’s about.” another ring.
victory Saturday against Business comes before bas- ously with myself, Kyrie and There’s plenty more to “I think we just want more.
the Los Angeles Clippers in ketball this week, as the Kev, we spearhead the watch down the stretch, We’re not satisfied with win-
what’s become perhaps trade deadline is Thursday whole thing. from Kobe Bryant’s final ning the championship,”
the league’s testiest rivalry. afternoon, a few hours be- We’re focused on the main games before retirement to Green said. “We think we
The NBA record of 72 wins, fore the season resumes. thing and knowing what the rookie of the year race have something special
set 20 years ago by Mi- Contenders will try to load the main thing is every between Minnesota’s Karl- and it only lasts so long, so
chael Jordan’s Chicago up and disappointments day, we’re going to have a Anthony Towns and New we want to take advan-
Bulls, could be in reach. can break up. great chance.” York’s Kristaps Porzingis. tage of that and not get
“If it’s there for us we want From there, there’s less So will the Spurs, who are just But the focus will never complacent.
to get it, but at the end of than two months before 3 ½ games behind Golden be too far from the War- Let’s continue to try to get
the day we’re trying to win the playoffs begin. State at 45-8, and like the riors and Curry, who seems more.”q
a championship,” Thomp-
son said.
There are a couple of