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Golden State First NBA Title led By Former Miami Star Rick Barry

By Alan Rubenstein

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; NBA former player Rick Barry, center left, watches as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, center, Stephen Curry, right, and their teammates celebrate after game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; NBA former player Rick Barry, center left, watches as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, center, Stephen Curry, right, and their teammates celebrate after game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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The series moved back to the East Coast for game four. Like they had to open the series, the Bullets got off to a quick start in game four. A first quarter fight led to the ejection of Warriors coach Al Attles.

Washington took a 30-20 lead at the end of one. They led by as many as 14. Behind Barry and a much fresher bench than the Bullets, the Warriors staged another comeback. Barry finished with 20 points in a 96-95 victory and Golden State’s first title.

The Warriors had won a pair of championships when they played in Philadelphia, but this was their first in the Bay Area. Barry averaged 29.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG and 3.5 SPG to earn the Finals MVP award.

Golden State finished the following season with a 59-23 record. That was first in the Western Conference. They were upset by the 42-40 Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors never recovered.

Barry signed with the Houston Rockets for the 1978 season. The Warriors would not advance to the Western Conference Finals again following the 1976 season until the won the NBA Championship in 2015.

Next: Miami Hurricanes Stay a Six Seed in Latest Bracketology

They have quickly become one of the NBA’s two elite franchises in the last three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The evolution of the title on the West Coast was laid by Barry.

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