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Warriors have made history, but they aren't celebrating just yet

SAN ANTONIO – The Golden State Warriors had made history, catching Michael Jordan’s Bulls and their 72-win mark that seemed so safe through all these years. 

SAN ANTONIO – The Golden State Warriors had made history, catching Michael Jordan’s Bulls and their 72-win mark that seemed so safe through all these years. 

Yet somehow, amid all the revelry inside AT&T Center on Sunday night, Draymond Green was headed home empty-handed.

Stephen Curry claimed the game ball, clutching and cradling it after their 92-86 win over the San Antonio Spurs as if it were one of his two young daughters. But there were still souvenirs to be had, box scores and such that could help refresh these memories when they’re all old and gray.

“I’ll wait ‘til Wednesday to get something,” Green said with a smile as he headed toward the bus.

Know this much as the Warriors prepare for their regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena: They want this record all for themselves.

Beyond the obvious significance, it’s the Bulls backdrop that makes this moment so intoxicating for the ones who are living it. They’re sharing sentences with Jordan now. They’re forcing the basketball world to ponder how they’ll go down in the record books.

That’s why ESPN’s Michael Wilbon has been even more popular than normal of late, the Warriors players aware that he covered the Bulls teams and still talks to Jordan on a regular basis. That’s why their coach has a whole different level of credibility, with Steve Kerr having spent those Bulls days burying wide-open threes when the defense would gravitate to the greats. That’s why this, for them, is about as surreal and sublime as hoops accomplishments get.

“Mike told me at All-Star (Weekend in Toronto) … ‘Go get the record. If y’all don’t win this record, I’m gonna be hot, and I’m blaming you,’” Green said. “We’re almost there. We’ve got one more game.”

As of late Sunday, Curry hadn’t heard from Jordan, the Charlotte Hornets owner with whom he has a casual relationship (Curry might be golfing pals with President Obama, but he said he didn’t have Jordan’s cellphone number). Jordan hasn’t made any public statements about the Warriors, with Scottie Pippen doing all the talking to this point.

Pippen’s recent prediction that their Bulls would sweep Golden State in a theoretical playoff clash got the Warriors’ attention, but the respect they have for that group killed any chance of a retort. Pippen changed his tone after the Warriors tied the record, though, tweeting “Giving credit where credit is due. Congrats to @SteveKerr and his @Warriors on win No. 72. They earned it tonight.”

Pippen gushed about Curry via Twitter, too, calling him “As cold blooded (a) shooter as I’ve ever seen and a basketball IQ that is off the charts.”

Knowing Jordan’s competitive ways, his congratulations likely won't come unless the Warriors seize the record for themselves.

“I don’t think Mike really cares,” Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala said. “I’m a big Mike fan, and no one can compare to him. I think he knows that, which makes him the best player of all time. It’s not even close.

“(But) it’s a good thing for the game of basketball. It’s a good thing to remember greatness.”

The postgame scene in San Antonio was born of that very sentiment.

Long after Curry and Green had hugged at midcourt and after their locker room celebration that was brief but joyous, another great came strolling into the Warriors world. Spurs legend David Robinson, who won both of his championships with Kerr at his side, embraced his former teammate just outside the Warriors locker room. Danny Ferry joined in a few minutes later, the former Spurs big man who was part of their 2003 title team paying his respects as well.

Game recognize game, as they say, and just one game to go.

“We’re in the moment, enjoying the ride,” Curry said. “Obviously the goal is to win a championship. That’s what we’re playing for. But we’re putting ourselves in a great position to end the season with a win and do something that no team has done in history, so that’s an amazing accomplishment.

“It’s hard to kind of step outside the locker room and understand the spotlight that comes with it and just the hoopla. We come out every night trying to win, but when you understand, and just think about (how) only two teams have done what we’ve done so far – and hopefully Wednesday we can finish that off – it’s unbelievable.”

 

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