Strength in numbers: The Golden State Warriors' way

As Klay Thompson comes off aflare screen from Kevon Looney, rookie Brandin Podziemski deliversa bounce pass at the block to Jonathan Kuminga to run theirpatented split-action. Podziemski sets another screen at the wingand Kuminga delivers a pass right on the money to a curlingThompson. He sets his feet, lets one defender chasing him fly byand shoots a three right over the help defender.

Splash. Nothing but the bottomof the net, just like the old days. The Warriors are comfortably upafter the third quarter against the Utah Jazz after Thompson hitshis third-straight three and score his 35th point as he came offthe bench for the first time since 2012. Although the Jazz had abig fourth quarter to keep the game close, the Warriors eked outwith a win to continue playing their best basketball of theseason.

The Warriors are fun again, soit seems.

After a tumultuous season filledwith ups and downs, the Dubs are 8-2 over their last 10 games rightbefore the All-Star break and preparing for another playoff pushwith their aging dynastic core.

What makes their run so specialis the fact that they rediscovered a winning formula despite makingzero moves at the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8. Rumors wereswirling, but they decided to stick with this group for the rest ofthe season – and possibly for seasons to come.

“We did win a championship, in case peopleforgot, a year and a half ago,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerrwhen asked if he believes this isn't the last dance for theWarriors' Big Three. “I believe in my guys, I love those guys, andwe're going to keep fighting."

"We did win a championship, in case peopleforgot, a year and a half ago...I believe in my guys, I love thoseguys, and we're going to keep fighting."- Steve Kerr when asked if he still believes this season is not a"Last Dance" for the Warriors' Big 3 (via @WillardAndDibs).pic.twitter.com/0x1cmOmyqf

Despite a seemingly lost season,the Warriors took a gamble by choosing to stand pat and stick withthe core that won them a title two seasons ago, while trusting thisnew set of role players to fill in the gaps.

The championship core from twoyears ago is still intact. Steph Curry is still an all-world talentand offensive force even at 35 years old. Draymond Green is back tohis usual self. Since returning from his suspension, Green’saggressiveness on offense and ever-reliant ability on defense haveenergized the team.

Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looneystarted the season with bad slumps, but are slowly getting backinto their groove, while Gary Payton II continues to work his wayback to being 100% healthy. Thompson has struggled as of late, buthe can still be lethal scoring in spurts with just his mereshooting prowess.

The young guys are coming intotheir own as contributors and finding their identity within theteam. Podziemski has been arevelation, serving as a connector on offense and earning SteveKerr’s trust to start games and play with the closing lineup overThompson. Kuminga is developing into a capable scoring option,which gives the Warriors another dimension.

Lately, the Warriors look likethemselves again. Their in-game swagger is back and the vibes areimmaculate. These are the Warriors of old, winning while havingfun.

Given their recent success, theyare confident that they still have at least one more run inthem.

“This is a story that’s stillkind of unfolding, and it’s important that we see it all the waythrough until it’s proven that we can’t win,” Curry said inan interview with The Ringer’s LoganMurdock.

The Warriors are determined towin, and they want to do ittheir way. And perhaps that’s the point.

This team was built from theground up, with a collective effort from a group of players whowere drafted and developed by the franchise. After all, it was the “Strength in Numbers”mantra that started it all, and it's only fitting to end theirjourney the same way they started: with a team that was built theright way.

The Warriors have won fourchampionships in the last decade by using this formula, and theybelieve this same approach will lead them to another Larry O'Brientrophy. After doing it all these years, Thompson believes that theyhave what it takes to succeed once again by trusting theirprocess.

“You see Steph Curry, you seeDraymond Green, you see our playoff record when we are together,”Thompson proclaimed. “I’ll always believe.”