“The Warriors ruined the NBA.”, “Kevin Durant made the NBA less enjoyable”, “The Warriors aren’t fair”.
We as a collective NBA Fanbase have heard those three quotes ringing from all corners of social media and sports commentary shows since the Warriors went 73-9, and then added a future Hall of Fame player in Kevin Durant. Following his signing, the Warriors went 67-15 and won an NBA Finals with one of the most dominant playoffs runs in the history of basketball. The following year, with the team marred by injuries, still managed to win 58 games and lock up the two seed in the Western Conference.
While facing adversity, they still got the job done while beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and sweeping LeBron James to a fresh start with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers following James’ decision made moves like adding Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, and they even took JaVale McGee from the Warriors to make them competitive again. The talks of the Lakers going to the NBA Finals. An effective take on the phrase “Your turn”. Then in steps, DeMarcus Cousins.
DeMarcus Cousins signed a mid-level exception deal one year deal that is worth $5.3 Million that threw the NBA into a frenzy last night. The announcement effectively ended the excitement of the Lakers adding LeBron James in what Cousins called his “chess move”. In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that Cousins received no offers from other teams, not even the Pelicans.
In addition, while coming off the same injury that hindered Kobe Bryant, it is understandable that GM’s wouldn’t want to risk max contract money on a player that might not be the same player he once was. Although the Warriors are living with an abundance of riches, when the option becomes available, why not upgrade after losing a vital piece in JaVale McGee? That is what the front office of Golden State is doing, and they are rewriting basketball history in the process.
This Golden State team was already compared to the 95-96 Chicago Bulls as two of the greatest teams in NBA History. But if this Warriors team goes on to win their third straight NBA championship, they will usurp the Chicago Bulls as the greatest team of all time. While the NBA has had its fair share of talented starting five players, never in the history of the league has there been a starting five with this much power, force, and finesse.
Their starting five once Cousins returns from injury, will boast 5 All-Stars and all of them, seeing if their careers pan out successfully, can end up in the Basketball Hall of Fame. This team is the kind of dominance people talk about when referring to Jordan’s Bulls teams utter dominance of their opponents night in and night out. Our parents witnessed greatness in their era of basketball that many thought that would never be seen again.
Well, our era finally got the dominant force in basketball equivalent to those great Bulls teams. The level of rule-altering talent that the Warriors have might not ever be seen again in the history of the sport of basketball. So it is time that we all as basketball fans whether you like them or not need to sit back and marvel in amazement at the all-time great Golden State Warriors.
