For the fifth straight season the Golden State Warriors are the champions of the rugged Western Conference. In another week we’ll get to see if the Warriors are NBA champions for the fourth time in the past five years.
We are witnessing historic things from these Warriors. Things which remind one of the Boston Celtics during their dynasty years with Red Auerbach and Bill Russell.
Comparisons are being made suggesting Steve Kerr is a top ten coach of all-time. Steph Curry by some is being hailed as the greatest point guard since Magic Johnson. I’d tap the brakes on both of those statements, but by the same token let’s see what unfolds the next five years in San Francisco as the Warriors move into their new arena.
These Warriors have a chance to be historically elite with or without Kevin Durant. What if Kawhi replaced a departed Durant? What if Paul George joined the Warriors in a few years? What if a player like say Marcus Smart or Chris Middleton replaced Andre Iguodala? It should be easy for the Warriors to attract a quality piece even if Durant leaves for the Knicks or the Clippers.
Would it be too much to say the Splash Brothers plus Draymond Green are the NBA’s version of Tom Brady and Gronk?
I don’t worry about Durant. He’s a different cat. He is in fact like a cat in that he seems to keep on the move and not let his emotions dictate his decisions. Personally, if Jerry West won him over once what would make me think Jerry West won’t do it again only this time for the Clippers in Los Angeles.
If I’m a Warriors fan do I want Durant to play in the Finals? Of course I do in that Giannis will wear himself down defending Durant. Who else on the Warriors’ roster has the tools to test Giannis when he’s on defense. Not Green and not Iguodala. That would be Kevin Durant grinding down Giannis as he did LeBron these past two season.
And that’s why it was so smart for Bob Myer to lure Durant to Oakland. Because in Durant he has his closer when the Warriors are opposing an uber elite player such as LeBron or Giannis.
But ask yourself this if Durant leaves and is replaced by Kawhi wouldn’t it be fair to say the Warriors could win four out of the next championships as well.
Legacies and narratives will be a flow in the coming weeks. But I do know this —even without Kevin Durant the Warriors with Steph, Klay, Draymond and Andre will be the Vegas favorites to fourpeat if they beat the winner of the Bucks-Raptors series.
It’s like with Tom Brady. When I see somebody beat him/them–then I’ll pick someone else to win the NBA championship.
Here’s Steph after the overtime road win in Game 4 to close out the Warriors. Notice the professional questions and adult like answers.