SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The familiar sound of silence was sweet for the champs, who feel rejuvenated after being whole for the first time in a long time.
The championship swagger and arrogance was accompanied by actual focus and determination, finding themselves on the road yet again, facing another test from the game Sacramento Kings.
And for the first time in a long time, they passed the test, doing so with the style that made them champions last June.
The Golden State Warriors marched into Golden 1 Center a determined bunch and walked out to throngs of happy fans who made the trek down the highway, taking a 3-2 lead with a 123-116 Game 5 win in their competitive first-round series.