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The reigning back-to-back champion Golden State Warriors are currently a game behind the Denver Nuggets for first place in the difficult Western Conference.
For some folks, that’s a sign that the league has caught up to a franchise that won 73 games not too long ago. For the veteran superstar Kevin Durant however, it’s no source of pressing concern.
Kevin Durant knows the Warriors regular season win total is secondary to the team’s health and rhythm heading into another postseason run. “Who cares?” Durant said following Tuesday’s win over the New York Knicks. “We know how to play good basketball. We end up winning 54 games or 60 games it doesn’t matter. As long as we go into the playoffs in a good rhythm with good habits and healthy it don’t matter if we win 55 or 60 games. Regular season is just to build your habits up, not to chase anything as far as a record’s concerned. So we’ll just fall into whatever happens and we’ll keep plugging away every single day.”
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The back-to-back NBA Finals MVP clearly has his eyes set on the postseason. Despite some poor performances in some marquee games this season, the champs know they haven’t played a single game with their projected starting five. When DeMarcus Cousins returns next week the Warriors will have the opportunity to acclimate him to the mix, with plenty of time to get the Olympian up to speed before the playoffs.
As long as the Warriors hit the postseason healthy and in sync, the regular season is just one long dress rehearsal before the big show. #3peat