Road Warriors: Can Golden State maintain playoff streak, weaponize
Boston’s home court?
Steph Curry, Warriors recognize NBA Finals history in Celtics' hometown
>BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 7: Seventeen NBA championship banners
hang in the rafters for the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston,
Mass., Tuesday, June 7, 2022, as the Golden State Warriors prepare for
tomorrow’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
>BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 7: Seventeen NBA championship banners
hang in the rafters for the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston,
Mass., Tuesday, June 7, 2022, as the Golden State Warriors prepare for
tomorrow’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: June 8, 2022 at 7:13 a.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2022 at 7:48 a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/06/08/road-warriors-can-golden-state-maintain-playoff-streak-weaponize-bostons-home-court/

BOSTON — The allure of playing an NBA Finals game in this city is not
lost on veteran players like Stephen Curry.

As the Warriors superstar stepped on the TD Garden court for practice,
he looked up at the 17 championship banners and appreciated his
opponent’s history.

“It’s special,” Curry said Tuesday before practice. “Historic team,
dynasties from the ’80s, how many championships they won over the course
of the year, all the different highlights you watch, just have a
different iconic look when you see it on TV.

“There’s a lot of history in this city, in this building. Should be an
amazing atmosphere out there on the court tomorrow and Friday.”

Klay Thompson also took a moment before Tuesday’s practice to soak in
the moment of playing high-stakes basketball in a place where NBA
history has been established.

The Warriors have to plow through the Celtics to win their fourth title
in eight years, which would further cement Golden State’s place in NBA
history during the Curry era. With the series tied 1-1 after Golden
State won Game 2, Wednesday’s contest feels like a must-win to some players.

But the key for this series is being able to win on the road. Boston,
which has weaponized opponents’ courts all postseason, got the job done
in Game 1 after an astonishing fourth-quarter rally.

If history is any indication, getting at least one win amid a sea of
green should be the expectation for the Warriors.

For many teams, playing on an opponent’s home court is a disadvantage
but the Warriors have somehow found a way to be successful away from
home. Golden State has won at least one road game in each of its last 26
playoff series. This postseason, the Warriors are 4-3 away from Chase
Center, and have won each of their first games in opponent territory.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have struggled on their home court with a 2022
postseason record of 5-4.

Coach Steve Kerr said the Warriors’ road success has nothing to do with
strategy but is a reflection of the team’s competitive will to win. He
also said the Warriors’ lengthy playoff experience helps them better
attack their opponents first while on the road.

“Our guys understand the importance of making sure you don’t let your
guard down in that first playoff game,” Kerr said. “I would expect
tomorrow to be really competitive right from the start. We know they’re
going to bring a level of physicality that we brought last game. We got
to be prepared for that.”

The Warriors got a taste of a hostile road environment in the second
round when they played the Grizzlies in Memphis for three road games
before winning the series in six.

“We always know how to find a way to win games no matter what style it
is, high scoring, low scoring, defensive battle, shootout, whatever it
is,” Curry said. “We find another level of grit and determination, just
an ability to find a way to get it done. Being in hostile environments,
you get tested, you get pushed. Our experience kind of shows at the
right time.

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“Obviously in this situation, it’s a must for us to win a championship.
We got to be up for that task.”

The Warriors’ keys for success in Game 3 on Wednesday?

“Probably not giving away possessions, limiting turnovers, taking great
shots,” Thompson said. “That probably starts with myself. Then playing
as hard as we did with Game 2, with that force. We know this team plays
very well at home.

“Usually on our championship runs, you have to get a road win or two to
complete the mission. This is not a new scenario for us. It comes down
to just playing that brand of Warrior basketball that allows us to be
successful.”