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The Warriors Have a New Nickname but Without ‘Splash Brother’ Stephen Curry

Published 01/01/2023, 5:45 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Chase Center erupted in applause and cheer as the Golden State Warriors bagged their fourth straight win. The latest win came against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Warriors bench danced around in sheer joy, uplifting and praising the efforts of their teammates. The win certainly called for a celebration of a team that had managed to change its momentum and get into a positive mental space after a forgettable run on the road. This win arguably spoke volumes about the culture that exists in the team, and it is a culture that is led by its superstar Stephen Curry.

As Draymond Green put it, the culture of this team revolves around “keeping egos in check”. Each member of the team is accountable, responsible, and hardworking. There is no escape from these values. Additionally, the aim is to play for a win, not for personal gains. For Green, two-time MVP Stephen Curry sets this tone. He leads by example, making it difficult for the others around him to act out. Playing for the greater good and playing as a team, the Warriors’ success and culture thrive on this.

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However, Curry has been missing from the court recently due to his shoulder injury, and in his place, two other Warriors stars have stepped up to take the scoring onus upon themselves.

New Warriors duo create magic while Stephen Curry watches on

On Friday night, the Warriors’ culture shined through. They came together as a unit when it was needed the most. Their young star Jordan Poole was sublime with his 41 points while Klay Thompson dazzled on the court with 31 points. Contributions to the scoreboard came from each player and each point was cheered on like they were about to win another title. The Warriors followed their championship blueprint but the difference was, Stephen Curry was watching from the sidelines.

 

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Following the win, Thompson revealed that Poole and he have a nickname for themselves. He said, “We call each other 311 like the band”. 311 comes from their respective jersey numbers. Poole and Thompson created magic on the hardwood on the night, and this magic was akin to that of the ‘Splash Bros’, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. The ‘Splash Bros’ name originated when the Curry-Thompson duo showcased their three-point range to the world. As seen in the recent past, Poole’s three-point range has been equally dangerous and accurate.

Jordan Poole has since stepped up in the absence of the four-time champion. Like Curry, Poole led the Warriors from the front. But what stood out was the chemistry he shared with Thompson.

Poole seemingly read Thompson’s mind like it were an open book. Together, they looked in sync and matched each other’s energy. From behind the arc they shot with ease and in the paint, they were almost unstoppable.

The post-game reactions

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Despite changing the course of their season’s story, the real test for the Warriors this season is when they play away from the Chase Centre. Warriors star Draymond Green said, “I think we’re just starting to fight.”

USA Today via Reuters

With the young stars stepping up, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was excited. He was certain that the team and its fans have good times ahead of them. He said, “I think they’re really enjoying watching this team grow.” 

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Watch this Story: Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard joins Stephen Curry and Trae Young in a historic list after going off against the Warriors 

Do you think the Warriors can capitalize on this performance while being away from home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Shriya Rajachandra

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Shriya Rajachandra is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Psychology, and Communicative English. Shriya previously interned at The New Indian Express, but her favorite journalist, Marcus Thompson motivated her to start writing about basketball.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani