Warriors, asam ang back-to-back NBA title; Green, sinuspinde sa Game 5.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Handa na ang banda, gayundin ang hapag kainan para sa isang inaasahang pagdiriwang sa Oracle Arena dito. Nakahanda na rin ang confetti at lobo para paliguan ang “yellow army” ng Warriors -- itinuturing pinakamaingay na crowd sa kasaysayan ng liga.

At sakaling manaig ang Warriors sa Game Five ngayong umaga (Lunes ng gabi sa California), ipagdiriwang ng Bay Area ang back-to-back championship na wala ang premyado at No.3 player ng Golden State na si Draymond Green.

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Sinuspinde ng NBA ang 6-foot-7 power forward matapos itaas sa flagrant foul 1 ang naunang desisyon ng technical foul laban sa kanya at kay James nang makitaan ng ginawang review sa laro sa Game 3 na sinadya ni Green ang pagtama ng kamay sa maselang parte ng katawan ni James matapos silang magkagitgitan sa isang post up play.

“Green made unnecessary contact with a retaliatory swipe of his hand to the ‘groin’ of LeBron James, who also received a technical retroactively for their tussle in the fourth quarter Friday,” sambit ng NBA.

Tangan ng Warriors ang 1-3 karta at wala pang koponan sa NBA ang nakabangon sa 1-3 pagkakabaon para maging kampeon sa best-of-seven Finals.

Sa kabila nito, nais maniguro ni coach Steve Kerr, higit at nawala sa kanyang inihandang play si Green.

“It didn’t happen, so whatever,” sambit ni Kerr.

Sasabak ang Warriors na wala ang ganado at palabang si Green.

“We’re going to come out aggressive and confident, just like we would if Draymond was playing,” sambit ni back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry.

“We understand what we’re playing for, and that’s all that matters. So we hope to have a great night, take care of the details of the game. Individual guys step up and play pretty special and have special efforts and come out with a win,” aniya.

Kung sakali, ito ang unang pagkakataon sa tatlong kampeonato ng Warriors na ipagdiriwang ang tagumpay sa kanilang tahanan sa Oracle Cente.

Kapwa nasungkit ng Warriors ng unang dalawang kampeonato sa road game nang gapiin nila ang Cavaliers, 4-2, sa Cleveland, at walisin ang Washington noong 1975.

“The pressure’s back on them. We’re not supposed to win tomorrow, not by anybody’s picks,” sambit ni Andrew Bogut.

“We like those situations. We like going into those games on our floor. We’re going to try to wrap it up.”

Iginiit ni Kyle Thompson na malaking butas ang maiiwan ni Green, ngunit kumpiyansa siya magagawang manalo ng Warriors na kanilang iaalay kay Green.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m not going to let it get us down,” pahayag ni Thompson. “We had a next-man-up approach all year. Draymond, we know it’s going to kill him not being there, but we’re going to go out there and do it as a team and win for him. Go out there and try to make a statement on our home floor.”

Hindi na rin bago sa Warriors ang sitwasyon na kulang sila sa player nang magtamo ng injury si Curry sa paa , tuhod at siko at hindi nakalaro sa unang bahagi ng playoff. Mismong si Kerr ay mahabang napahinga nang magkaroon ng impeksyon ang inoperahan niyang likod.

“I’m proud of this team because we’ve been so great all year making adjustments, and this is just obviously a big adjustment we’ve got to make. But it’s another challenge for us,” sambit ni Thompson said.