Golden State Warriors Basketball.....When Video Games Come to Life

Being a part of the video game culture I’ve learned that the most selling games accentuate the most exciting parts of that particular genre of game. Action games amplify the explosions and violence. Children’s games use brighter and bolder colors to attract toddlers’ short attention spans. Fantasy and role playing games make the magic and mystical characters to fit the imaginations of its players. Then there are sports games, probably the games that can best relate to the everyday person because sports is a part of everyday life. It’s not like we see mythical dragons or witness city-wide one-man killing sprees at every turn. They too, must exaggerate the most exciting facets of their games. In football and hockey games, the hits and the ridiculous juke moves are the highlights of the game. In baseball games, the home run and outstanding defensive plays are a must-see. And in basketball, it’s all about the three-pointer and the dunk. Everyone who has played a basketball video game will attest to the fact that offense equals excitement. I mean, rarely does a player want to slow it down and run a half-court game, unless there’s something on the line. Now being a true basketball fan and a lover of the sport, I thought that the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns were the closest to a virtual reality team that we would ever see; but these playoffs have proven otherwise.
The Golden State Warriors, as currently constructed under Don “The Mad Scientist” Nelson, play the most visually appealing brand of basketball to date. No structure. No set plays. It’s just based on sheer basketball IQ and pure talent. Nelson has always been considered unconventional, because he does not believe in assembling a team around a traditional big man; like, for example, the San Antonio Spurs (Timmy!). Any big man he does have on the roster is there for defense, rebounding, and hustle; not scoring. Nelson believes in athleticism and versatility, and building a team based on speed. His best lineup consists of Baron Davis and Jason Richardson in the backcourt, Mikhail Pietrus, Stephen Jackson, and Al Harrington up front, none of which are taller than 6’9”. Now most coaches would worry about the size differential that most teams would present. But with the decline in the number of quality post players, and the myriad of skills each player has, it’s the Warriors with the advantage on most nights. Their best offensive sets include: Isolation of whomever has the mismatch, the Baron Davis clearout, penetration and kickout to the three for anyone that spots up behind the line, and everything else is up to the five on the court. Now whether or not you’re just getting into the EA games, or your controller prowess dates back to NBA Jam on Sega Genesis and Arch Rivals on Nintendo, you know of the excitement in the offensive shootout. It’s more fun, and it’s more enjoyable to watch. This is the same aesthetic beauty that a Warriors’ game presents—when they’re making their shots. As with any team, missing a lot of shots isn’t great to see, however, it seems that a great night for the Warriors will have you on the edge of your seat—wanting to get gaaaaaaammmmmeeeesssss every night of the week like Tiki Barber (Ooookaaay)..
But Golden State’s excitement spills over into the defensive side of the court as well. They scrap and frustrate the opposition, particularly if a player’s on the box. It’s as if they dare the other team to operate through the post so they can trap, steal, and get out in transition—which is where they thrive.
With all this excitement, there is a weakness in their “style” of play, as wonderfully demonstrated by the Utah Jazz in this year’s Western Conference Semifinals. Because of their fastbreak nature, the Warriors get heavily outrebounded, particularly on the offensive end. And when a team has a beast, like a Carlos Boozer (never thought I’d give a Blue Devil respect), he will have his way with them—and that’s just what he did. Because of his timely work on the glass, the Jazz were able to win every close game, which were the four that they did win.
It was in this series that I realized that this brand of basketball, though fun to watch and better to play in, will never win a championship. Now most reading that sentence will immediately think of the Suns, but the main difference between the two teams is that Phoenix has two beasts on the backboards, Marion and Stoudemire; along with arguably the best player in the league in Nash (F Dirk). Every championship is built around a big man, except for His Airness’s Bulls because, duh, they had #23; and the 2004 Pistons, which were the ultimate team and caught a Lakers team at the very end of its dynasty. But this article isn’t meant to putdown the Golden State Warriors, but to praise them for almost a month of terrific basketball and tremendous excitement. Now I don’t feel quite as bad when one of my players on NBA Live (namely, the created version of me) has an absurdly ridiculous statistical game. I know now there’s a team out west that can justify it for me. Boom…shakalaka.