Warriors seek fifth NBA title in nine years

LOS ANGELES (AP):

For the Golden State Warriors, it’s a drive for five, as in five championships in nine years. It’s a similar thought for LeBron James, as the NBA’s all-time points leader is set to resume his quest for a fifth ring.

And for a bunch of other teams, just one ring would satisfy.

The NBA playoffs start today, with Milwaukee as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference and holders of home-court advantage throughout the post-season, and Denver as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the first time.

“Every year, I mean, it’s tough,” said James, who helped the Los Angeles Lakers get back to the playoffs despite a topsy-turvy year marred by injuries and slumps. “There’s too many great teams, too many great players. Every year is tough. No matter if you’re the one seed or the eight seed, every single year is tough.”

The defending champions Warriors open on the road, albeit not far from home, as they take on Sacramento, one of the feel-good stories in the NBA this season, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. King’s first-year coach Mike Brown was part of the Warriors’ staff under Steve Kerr for years, and brought that championship culture to Sacramento.

They’ve been talking play-offs all year. But Brown knows that words only go so far.

“At the end of the day, the best teacher is going to be the actually going through it and seeing how you hold up to things that come your way, especially the adversity,” Brown said.

The Warriors know what that means. They opened the season with a ring ceremony, and that was about the last thing that went according to plan. They didn’t get over the 500 mark for good until late February.

But if there’s another title, the Warriors know all the struggles will be forgotten.

“When you’re coming off a championship and lacing ‘em back up, you’re celebrating what you accomplished,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said, “But every time you step foot on the floor and practise and get ready for the games and everything that we’ve been through this year, it’s all about the goal at the end of the year of having an opportunity to go chase another one.”

Some of the top playoff hopefuls had less-rocky paths to the playoffs. Milwaukee – champions two years ago, with much of the same core now – were at or near the top of the East all season. In some order, the East one-two-three have been the Bucks, defending East champions Boston and title-starved Philadelphia since mid-January.

The Bucks dealt with injuries, the Celtics dealt with a pre-season coaching change, and neither was derailed. A title for Boston would be the franchise’s 18th, breaking a tie with the Lakers for the most in NBA history. And the Celtics have not forgotten the pain of losing last year’s finals.

“We’ve essentially been waiting for this moment, getting to the playoffs,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said, “The group is locked in, the group is focused, everybody’s back healthy, so we’re just preparing the right way ... Now, it’s here. We’re all excited and ready for the moment.”

The moment, and the ring, are all that matters. Just ask Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“This is what we need,” he shouted to Bucks fans earlier this month, pointing to his ring finger, “We need a second one.”