Is Warriors era at an end—along with others
End of an era. Such a short phrase. Such a poignant phrase.
End of an era. Three words implying change has arrived, perhaps for the better but almost always for the worst.
End of an era. Within days, hours really, Pete Carroll is dispatched by the Seahawks, Nick Saban retires at Alabama and Bill Belichick leaves the New England Patriots.
End of an era. The Golden State Warriors tumble from greatness into such pathetic efficiency, they virtually are out of games by the second quarter and the cheers that once filled their home, Chase Center, turn into boos.
Nothing is forever. A cliché, a reminder. There’s always someone new, some new team, another young kid as we grow old. That’s sports. That’s life. That’s coaches stepping away or being shoved away. That’s people who fail to understand we’re not going to stay on top, if we ever were fortunate to get there.
In the last months, the New England Patriots, a dynasty, had disintegrated and could barely score, dropping their final game of the season 17-3.
The last few days the Warriors, a dynasty, have disintegrated. Sunday night, they allowed 46 points in the first quarter.
Unbelievable is both an overused and misapplied word in sport, where to be accurate, nothing—rallies, blown leads, games in snowstorms—truly nothing on a field or a court of ice is unbelievable, improbable yes.
Some of these fresh-faced partisans, who only discovered the Warriors the last decade, perhaps thought they’d never lose. Then again few of us thought they’d ever lose in the way they’ve lost recently, blown out.
Their coach said the Warriors have lost confidence. Too many new players in the lineup, possibly, and no Draymond Green, whose leadership and emotion—but not his violence—is to return shortly.
Maybe this is a false hope. Maybe, with Steph Curry wearing down and Klay Thompson inconsistent, what the Warriors used to be they’ll never be again. That also could be true for the New England Patriots, with whoever is their coach.
So much upheaval in so short a time, and so many questions about how we can adapt. Would we have imagined the Warriors could toss away an 18-point lead? Or that Bill Belichick, Nick Saban and Pete Carroll would say goodbye in such rapid fashion?
They’re no longer coaching, although stories persist that Belichick will be back somewhere soon. The Warriors continue to play, if in different circumstances.
The other night, with the Warriors farther behind than one never would have thought, there was a TV closeup of Curry whose facial expression seemed to be a blend of bewilderment and dismay.
He’s probably thinking, how could he keep at least one sporting era from ending with all those others.