By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA these last three years, winning two titles and with their dominance, one can argue that they are the best team in the history of the National Basketball Association.
The Warriors have it all. An excellent coach in Steve Kerr, the greatest shooter of all-time in Steph Curry, another all-time great shooter in Klay Thompson, a defensive juggernaut in Draymond Green and a seven-footer who can do it all on both ends of the court, named Kevin Durant. Besides, the defending champions have a great sixth man in Andre Iguodala and very solid rotation players, as is Shawn Livingston, Zaza Pachulia, and Nick Young.
However, this year against the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors are tied 3-3 against Houston’s team who is challenging the champs to the max. And while the Rockets are one win away from the NBA Finals, Chris Paul went down with a hamstring strain in Game 5, missed Game 6 and is more than likely to not play in Game 7 at Texas.
Due to the fact that Chris Paul’s injury can affect the Rockets and thus the Warriors, Eurohoops presents how the injuries of opponent players have affected the Warriors’ historic dominance over the last three years.
| Year | Player | Injury | Series | Result |
| 2015 | Mike Conley | Facial fracture | Warriors vs. Grizzlies (WCSF) | 4-2 |
| 2015 | Tony Allen | Hamstring | Warriors vs. Grizzlies (WCSF) | 4-2 |
| 2015 | Patrick Beverley | Torn wrist ligament | Warriors vs. Rockets (WCF) | 4-1 |
| 2015 | Kevin Love | Dislocated shoulder | Warriors vs. Cavaliers (Finals) | 4-2 |
| 2015 | Kyrie Irving | Fractured kneecap | Warriors vs. Cavaliers (Finals) | 4-2 |
| 2017 | George Hill | Toe injury | Warriors vs. Jazz (WCSF) | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Jusuf Nurkic | Fibular fracture | Warriors vs. Blazers (First Round) | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Kawhi Leonard | Ankle injury | Warriors vs. Spurs (WCF) | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Tony Parker | Torn squad | Warriors vs. Spurs (WCF) | 4-0 |
| 2018 | Chris Paul | Hamstring strain | Warriors vs. Rockets (WCF) | 3-3 |
In some of the cases above, the Warriors already had the lead in the series and kept on winning, but in Chris Paul’s injury, Kawhi Leonard’s injury last year it was a totally different story. The injuries are part of the game we love, affect an outcome of a contest but it would have been nice to watch a great team in the Warriors compete against a fully healthy Rockets, Spurs, Blazers team.
Either way, the Rockets will face the Warriors on Monday night in a do or die Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals.
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