The Golden State Warriors' magical run through the 2013 NBA playoffs was coming to an end, the overwhelming sense of finality took over.
Facing a six-point deficit with less than two minutes left in their win-or-go-home Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Warriors worked a clean three-point look for Klay Thompson, a career 40.6 percent perimeter shooter. His long-range attempt rattled in and out.
But Golden State regained possession, then found Stephen Curry, the same gunslinger who needed all of four years to set the league's all-time record for most three-pointers made in a single season with 272. His shot clipped the front of the rim, danced around the cylinder, then fell into the hands of San Antonio's Manu Ginobili.
On the ensuing possession Tony Parker, a career 31.3 percent shooter from distance, drilled a corner three. The 75 seconds left on the clock were meaningless.
Instead of heading for the exits, fans joined forces and unleashed a deafening "Warriors" chant of appreciation, a final send-off for the team responsible for bringing playoff hoops to the Bay Area for just the second time in 19 years. The unabashed embrace of their players and their coaches at their darkest hour was one of the finest moments to witness from this postseason (via HoopsSpeak.com's Beckley Mason):
The cheers carried on a while after the final buzzer signaled the end of San Antonio's 94-82 series-clinching win. And the roaring level of applause went unshaken as the players left the floor for the final time this season.
Then Jarrett Jack, an eight-year veteran but first-year Warrior, emerged from the tunnel and made his way back on to the hardwood to show that these feelings of adoration were 100 percent mutual. His teammates would join him shortly thereafter (via Marcus Thompson of the Mercury News Group):
When signs of gratitude and rounds of applause weren't enough, Jack literally gave these fans the shirt off his back and then some (via Thompson):
Stephen Curry, a budding superstar and the biggest piece of keeping this group from being a one-hit wonder, then found a microphone and a way to bring the players and fans even closer together (via the Warriors' official Twitter account):
Perhaps even more uplifting than the moment itself, though, was the thought that this may only be a sign of great things to come for this franchise.
Remember this group lost defensive stalwart Brandon Rush for the season in the regular-season home opener, then watched in horror as its lone All-Star, David Lee, suffered a torn right hip flexor in Game 1 of its opening-round series with the Denver Nuggets. Not to mention the playoff push saw the emergence of rookie Harrison Barnes, some awe-inducing shooting performances from sophomore Thompson and a glimpse of what a healthy Andrew Bogut could mean for this team's future.
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