I always love it when I visit the bay area and soak up the culture and the environment surrounding Oakland, Frisco, and Northern California as a whole. One thing that never gets old is the winning tradition that the Golden State Warriors have adapted along with their head coach Steve Kerr. I’ve already penciled the Warriors in to repeat as NBA champions for the 2018 season. The only way the Warriors don’t win a title this year in my opinion is if they beat themselves (which won’t happen), or god forbid any kind of serious injury in their starting lineup.
They’ve learned from 2 years ago that chasing records (73-9 during the regular season) isn’t relevant and doesn’t really mean anything if you can’t finish the process and win the NBA title at the same time. The Warriors were in cruise control last year as they ran through the Western Conference and didn’t lose a game until they got to the finals vs the Cavs. 16-1 isn’t a bad playoff record to have regarding last year’s championship run. As the rest of the league scrambles around on pins and needles trying to duplicate the Warriors system or outscore them, Kerr and these Warriors are going to be just fine.
Things have shifted a little bit out West this year since the Houston Rockets have gotten better with adding Chris Paul alongside the MVP James Harden. Even though the Rockets are clearly a better team than they were last year, they can’t sustain an offensive outburst and consistency of play in a seven game series vs the Warriors. They are getting closer to being the “top dawg”, but that’s still years away in my book. The Oklahoma City Thunder is another team that has made some recent moves to try and compete with the likes of Golden State, but based on the experiment (for the most part which has failed) of the big three consisting of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony, things haven’t worked out as planned.
When you have a four headed monster, part of a starting lineup that consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, you already know you’re in trouble before the opening tip. With outstanding range and 3 point shooting ability, it really doesn’t matter if Steph has an off night, for Durant and or Klay Thompson can more than compensate for that. Let’s not forget about the rebounding and defensive presence that Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant can provide on the other end of the floor. Durant deservingly earned the Finals MVP last year, but what impressed me more than his offensive numbers was his defensive effort and his ability to block shots and be a rim protector.
Many people criticized coach Kerr for letting his players hold the clipboard and coach the team earlier this year during a home game vs the Phoenix Suns. I actually thought it was a brilliant move on the part of Kerr, for he indicated that “they were tired of hearing my voice and I wanted to mix things up a bit”. The thing that makes the Warriors so special and Kerr a great fit is that he lets his players be themselves while still maintaining a sense of discipline in a fun environment. He truly personifies what a player’s coach really is. I truly believe that the loose and care free environment in which the Warriors play in complements their personnel.
The Warriors will clearly be more tested and challenged out west prior to even getting to the Finals. It’s important that they close out opponents quickly and not allow these series to go the distance. Despite them not appearing to be at times, these Warriors are human and we can’t forget about the fatigue factor down the stretch. One thing that does concern me a bit is the fact that Draymond Green has already reached his limit in terms of technical fouls. He’s now in automatic suspension mode if he loses control of his emotions, particularly deeper in the playoffs. We know from past experience how significant this can be down the road if he’s T’d up in the midst of a competitive series. Despite the Warriors having all these great shooters, Green clearly is the “X” factor on this team and they need him on the court in order to repeat as Champions.
Let’s not forget that Golden State has one of the best benches in the league with the likes of Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, David West, Nick Young, and Javale McGee. They are loaded in all areas, and this presents a true nightmare for any opponent who will be facing them in the next few weeks and months to come. Despite myself already knowing what the outcome will be, this ride back to the Finals for Golden State will be a fun one to hop on.