PORTLAND, Ore. — It was frustrating, infuriating, and annoying, and it went on for seven months.
But it’s absolutely paying big dividends right now.
The Warriors organization has been proactive about — to steal a term from Lebron James — “load management” over the last few years. They took it to a new level this past regular season: resting players, being extra cautious with injuries, and generally limiting minutes.
It all meant that the Warriors didn’t exactly play up to their potential from October to April.
But now, as the team sits on the verge of a trip to the NBA Finals for the fifth-straight season — an unprecedented mark in the NBA’s modern era — the Warriors’ legs look fresh.