LOL @ TNT (Kenny and Shaq) saying this is a must win for the Kings. I agree they have to win one of two on the road, but, give me a break.
I actually agree with them on this one. It’s been a while, but if memory serves, the playoffs are all about momentum.
Right now, the Warriors are bleeding in the water and the Kings have all the momentum to finish them off. Another Warriors loss and they are effectively done. But if they win in front of their home crowd without Green, that’s a dramatic plot twist.
The suspension changes the calculus and puts pressure on the Kings to get it done tonight, rather than having the luxury of winning either road game in Chase.
A short-handed win tonight will gift the Warriors the all-essential momentum to even the series with a second win at home, where they’ve been dramatically better all season, back at full strength behind an angry Green likely throwing “screw-everyone” haymakers all game knowing the NBA probably won’t have the backbone to eject/suspend him again.
And in that scenario, I’m not excited about a best of 3 series against the defending champs with all the momentum, emboldened by a national media narrative of victimhood, and an NBA marketing campaign already built exclusively around Curry.
Even with home court advantage, that’s a setup for some 2002 Game 6 shenanigans.
Kings win tonight, and the series is over.
Kings lose tonight, and the series is just getting started.