Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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As game-time neared, the city sprang to life. Bars and restaurants around Oakland were packed with fans of every size, age and color, and all awash in blue and yellow. These were neighbors, friends, and strangers, exchanging nervous smiles and high fives. The Warriors and the city they've captivated are not even trying to act like they've been here before. It's thrilling enough that this is Oakland's moment. It's all the more so because virtually no one that cares about the Warriors has experienced it before.And so the city has given itself over to it. In City Center, the entrance to Oakland City Hall is adorned with a blue and gold sign declaring "Oakland is Warriors Ground." City and regional buses light up with "Go Warriors" messages after announcing their route. Posters of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson hang from street lights. Oakland, now more than ever, belongs to the Warriors.There's nothing terribly surprising about that. Despite the nebulous-sounding regional "Golden State," Oakland's been the Warriors' permanent home for more than 40 years. For most of that time, there wasn't much to cheer about. These Warriors are a successful and supremely fun team comprised of hard-working, likable players and coaches; "not a knucklehead in the group" in the words of Warriors legend and community ambassador Nate Thurmond. Any city would be happy to ride for a winning team in the national spotlight, and the Warriors are easy to love. This seems simple, but it's not.Read More: Talking To Nate Thurmond, The Hall Of Famer Who's A Legend In Golden State And Cleveland
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