In a series-clinching Game 4 of the 2019 Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors made yet another comeback, this time from 17 down to sweep the Portland Trail Blazers.
Two-thirds of the Warriors core in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green became the first teammates in league playoff history to record triple-doubles in the same game.
Curry finished with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists while Draymond Green recorded 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
In the process, the Warriors will be making their fifth straight Finals appearance, a feat no team has achieved since the Boston Celtics' dynasty in the 1960s.
Green, who averaged a near triple-double (16.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.8 steals on 54.0% shooting) in this four-game series vs. the Blazers, reflected on what this journey has been like:
"It's incredible. Careers aren't that long. If you can get 10 out of it, you are lucky. So to be to five straight Finals..... I don't even know what to say about it. This is what you play for. This is our goal every year and to get here five straight times is special."
Without Kevin Durant in this series, Stephen Curry led by example. He averaged 36.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists this series on 47.1% shooting.
"Five straight Finals and the historic nature of what that is, is crazy to think about it. We want to enjoy it. We know four more wins defines your season - winning a championship - so got to stay locked in.
"We understand how hard it is to win a playoff game, let alone a series."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 21, 2019
Steph on what it means to win 5 straight Western Conference titles in the #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/8VzRTLyTy9
The Warriors have had great leadership through all of their adversities during this great five-year run.
Under Steve Kerr, the team has registered a playoff road win in every series. Here's Kerr, who has five championships as a player and three as a coach, speak on the team's achievement:
"I hope it doesn't go unnoticed or underrated. Five straight Finals hasn't been done since the 60s, since Bill Russell's Celtics and it hasn't been done for a reason. It's really really difficult. I just can't say enough about the competitive desire of the group of players that we have here and the culture that they have built together."
The Warriors have certainly earned their way to this fifth straight Finals appearance. More importantly, they have nine days of rest before they begin their title defense on the road [irrespective of their opponent].
Can they three-peat and add to the legacy of their franchise? Only time will tell.
