SAN FRANCISCO – The last time 100,000 fans in the Bay Area witnessed a Warriors homestand as prosperous as that which ended Monday night came two days after Stephen Curry’s 28th birthday.That was when the fans were in Oakland, the Warriors’ home was Oracle Arena, and the team was rolling toward an NBA-record 73 wins.
This team is not that team, but it’s already apparent that these Warriors are superior to the squad that limped through last season and pulled up seats for the NBA playoffs.
Golden State’s 138-87 thrashing of the thoroughly overmatched New Orleans Pelicans required such casual effort that Curry, now 38, surely welcomed the benefit of playing a mere 21 minutes.
Concluding their first sweep of a six-game homestand before a full audience since March 6-16, 2016 – their last six-game home sweep came during the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season – the Warriors continued striding toward their identity and their place within the NBA hierarchy.
“I like the grit that the guys are showing,” coach Steve Kerr said. “If you want to be really good, you have to control your home...