The Golden State Warriors have been sent home by the Sacramento Kings in the 9-10 Play-In game, with the Kings picking up a dominant 118-94 win. Fans were shocked to see the Warriors going down without a fight, with some fans rejoicing while others lamenting the end of the dynasty.
Fans were making up puns about how the dynasty was dying nastily.
Fans joked about how Chris Paul finally got to eliminate the Warriors from the playoffs.
Most fans were sad to see a once-dominant force in the NBA end their season in such a fashion.
Klay Thompson going scoreless ahead of free agency has worried fans that this might have been his last game in the Warriors jersey.
Fans were getting upset watching Klay struggle given how hard he was playing.
The irony of Harrison Barnes being on the Kings' roster for this win was not lost on fans who know his history with the Warriors.
Fans expressed sadness over the end of the dynasty as well.
A huge Keegan Murray performance led the Kings, as the forward put up 32 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Domantas Sabonis had 16 points and 12 rebounds while De'Aaron Fox had 24 points. Starters Harrison Barnes and Keon Ellis also put up double-digit points as the Kings outplayed Golden State.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with a decent showing, putting up 22 points but at no point living up to the hype of being Clutch Player of the Year. Klay Thompson went off for 0 points in his worst showing all year at the worst possible time.
The Warriors Wrap Up A Disastrous Season
The Golden State Warriors saw their season end in the second round last year and decided to make massive gambles with the hope they work out as a path to return to contention. The Chris Paul trade looked spotty when it happened and can be considered an unquestionable failure. Despite solid selections in the 2023 NBA Draft, the progression of their young players couldn't outmatch the regression of the older players.
Klay Thompson entered this season hoping to earn a max contract extension and has ended it with his future entirely uncertain. Let alone a max, Thompson doesn't even look like a player worth $20 million anymore, complicating his free agency. If he leaves in the summer, this loss might be the worst way for the Warriors' big three to end.
Andrew Wiggins' has dealt with major personal problems, so attacking him for his on-court play given his brother ended his season early to be with family seems unfair. Nonetheless, his poor play for most of the season put the Warriors in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are coming back next season, but Golden State needs to reshape the team this summer if they hope to contend with Curry again. If not, it might be time to close the curtain on the dominant decade-long dynasty that won four titles.
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