OAKLAND, California (AP) — Batang munti pa lamang si Stephen Curry nang maitala ng Chicago Bulls ni Michael Jordan ang makasaysayang 72-win sa isang season.
Ni sa hinagap, hindi naging paksa sa usapin na mapapantayan ang naturang marka. Maging ang Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat na nakagawa ng sariling dominasyon sa millinium ay kumbinsidong suntok sa buwan na mabura ang naturang record.
Eksaktong 21 taon, nasa harapan ngayon ni Curry, ang reigning MVP at ng Warriors, ang defending NBA champion, ang hamon na magawa ang tagumpay na hindi naisakatuparan ng mga naunang ‘great teams’ sa kanila.
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“I knew what it was but you never really thought about it in perspective of anybody chasing it. It was kind of that number that was out there that seemed invincible,” pahayag ni Curry matapos ang ensayo ng Warriors nitong Martes (Miyerkules sa Manila).
“Even at the beginning of this year, even when we started 24-0, it was kind of: ‘Well, maybe we can do it. We’re going to keep playing every night with the intention of winning as many games as possible,’ but it just sounded kind of ludicrous, 72-10, how much good play has to go into it. We’re there now, 72-9, and we’ve got one more chance to beat it,” aniya.
Tatangkain ng Warriors ngayong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila), na mabura ang marka ng Bulls (1995-96) para sa win.
No. 73 sa pakikipagharap sa Memphis Grizzlies sa Oracle Arena kung saan dalawang ulit pa lamang natatalo ang Warriors.
Matapos makamit ang kauna-unahang NBA title makalipas ang 40 taon, kakaibang kasaysayan ang tatangkaing maitarak ng Warriors – markang tiyak na mahirap lagpasan sa susunod na 20 taon.
“It’s a big deal for sure,” sambit ni Curry. “It’s our last regular-season game, our last tuneup before the playoffs and nobody wants to lose their last game going into the playoffs if you can avoid it, and obviously 73. We want to get that number. Why not?”
Hindi rin makapaniwala si triple-double machine Draymond Green sa kinalalagyan sa kasalukuyan ng Golden State at iginiit na matutuldukan ang lahat ng agam-agam at kritisismo sa tunay na lakas at galing ng Warriors sa maitatalang marka sa liga.
You can’t not talk about it at this point. The whole world’s talking about it now. It’s everywhere. There’s no way to hide from it now. Honestly, realistically, I didn’t think it could be done,” aniya.
