The Warriors are shorthanded in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, regardless of whether or not Klay Thompson is able to play.
Kevin Durant won't play. Kevon Looney is out for the rest of the playoffs. Andre Iguodala is significantly banged up. Steph Curry still has a lingering finger issue. DeMarcus Cousins has only recently returned from a torn quad muscle.
Thompson's presence would go a long way towards helping Golden State take a two-games-to-one series lead over the Raptors, but even if he isn't able to give it a go in Game 3, one former Warrior believes the Dubs are built to overcome that loss.
Festus Ezeli says there's more than a championship on the line for the injury-riddled Warriors:
Warriors got a lot of players with a lot of pride. Steph still feels overlooked, Draymond, Boogie (all get disrespected), Iggy hurting but still playing... this is more than championship for them. You know what they say about about animals Backed in a corner?— Festus Ezeli (@festus) June 5, 2019
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Ezeli elaborated on that point, saying the Warriors are built for this kind of moment due to prior experience.
But speaking from my vantage point: these are the kind of games that drive the warriors.
We already lost a series a couple years ago because of injury. That shit still stings. I know what them boys thinking #TilltheWheelsFalloff— Festus Ezeli (@festus) June 5, 2019
The series Ezeli is referring to, of course, is the 2016 NBA Finals, which Golden State lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those Warriors also suffered significant injuries on their path to the Finals, withering the depth of the team, and the result was falling a game short of the championship. In Game 7, specifically, Ezeli was put in disadvantageous positions he likely wouldn't have been in otherwise had Golden State been healthier.
The Warriors have won the two NBA championships since that fateful series. After winning Game 2 in Toronto on Sunday, they now sit just three victories away from a third consecutive league title.
[RELATED: Warriors looking to overcome injuries in crucial Game 3]
The Warriors would certainly prefer to be at full strength for Game 3 on Wednesday night, but if Ezeli is to be believed, their collective pride may be more important.
