Former NBA star Muggsy Bogues has backed the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship this season.
The Warriors eased into the Western Conference semi-finals on Wednesday after completing a comprehensive 4-1 series victory against Denver Nuggets.
They are favourites in the NBA betting to claim the title for the fourth time in eight seasons and it would be a brave move to back against them achieving the feat.
Stephen Curry weighed in with 30 points against the Nuggets on a night where it took the team a little while to get themselves into top gear.
Klay Thompson and Gary Payton II bagged 15 points apiece to demonstrate that the Warriors are not just a one-man team.
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That point has been further evidenced by the emergence of Jordan Poole, with the 22-year-old unlucky to miss out on the NBA Most Improved Player Award this term.
While he had a quiet night against the Nuggets, Bogues believes Poole could play an integral role in their bid to clinch the NBA title.
“Golden State is really playing good basketball,” he said. “The elevation of Poole and what he’s bringing to the table night in and night out.
“Denver got a good win to avoid the sweep, but Golden State aren’t going anywhere and the way they continue to get bodies back and get players to take it to another level. It’s been quite impressive.”
The Warriors have bounced back to form in style this season after missing out on the play-offs for two consecutive campaigns.
They had reached the NBA Finals in each of the previous five seasons, winning three championships, and it appears they are now back in the groove.
A 15-50 record during the shortened 2019/20 season was a shock to the system, but they steadied the ship by going 39-33 last term.
The Warriors finished third in the Western Conference this time around, bagging a 53-29 record behind Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.
They will meet either the Grizzlies or the Minnesota Timberwolves for a place in the Conference Finals and will fancy their chances of getting the job done.
The Grizzlies are their likeliest opponents, with a 111-109 victory on Wednesday giving them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Timberwolves.
However, they have never progressed to the NBA Finals since they joined the league in 1995/96, and may lack the know-how to break through the glass ceiling.
Bogues believes the Warriors’ winning mentality will stand them in good stead over the coming weeks and has tipped them to go all the way this year.
“I’ve been watching and enjoying it tremendously,” he added. “That’s what an organisation does, especially the best ones, they just don’t get complacent.
“They are a championship pedigree organisation where they were fortunate enough to win three under the current regime that they have right now.
“So they’ve felt that, and they know what it feels like and what it takes. They feel like they’re still in their prime and they want to get back there.
“As I said, the elevation of Poole, he’s put them right back in that conversation. Being able to have those guys all on the court and being able to share that one ball, I mean it’s a beautiful thing to witness.”
