So there was no three-peat. So there was another clinching on enemy surface. So there was another team celebrating on Oracle Arena surface. More to the point, in the final game ever to be played in Oakland’s old barn, the party was spoiled.
The question has to be asked. In fact it already has been asked.
Is this the end of the Dub’s Dynasty?
Many would say yes and the reasons are there:
Klay Thompson – Torn ACL. Kevin Durant – Torn Achillies. DeMarcus Cousins – Quad issues.
Then there are the bruised egos of Stephen Curry (“He can’t carry a team”), Draymond Green (“too volatile”), Steve Kerr (“Why Now”), and the management of a team in the Golden State Warriors that has won three championships in the last five years.
So again, the question begs to be asked – “Is this the end of the Warriors’ Dynasty?”
So let the Snowman answer as eloquently, honestly, and succinctly as I can:
HELL NO IT’S NOT OVER! NOT BY A LONGSHOT!
Now let me explain why.
Kevin Durant is not going anywhere. Nor is Klay or Boogie. The reason is very very simple.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
I don’t know if you’re an old school NBA fan like me, but you want to see the best of the best of the best compete each spring in the NBA World Championship Series.
This was one of the times where that did not happen. Yes the Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, but they were nowhere near whole. No bench, no KD, and yet here they were on the verge of a three-peat.
They didn’t get it. Do you think these competitors want to leave it like that and have the Golden Empire finish that way? I don’t think so. These are competitors. These are brothers. These are members of a team. A team that has ruled the NBA for the better part of five full seasons and you expect them to go out like this?
Oh no my friends! Not going to happen and you’d be a full to doubt them. Will they be competitive next season? Yes. Will they make the Championship Series?
Not a chance.
What this World Championship Series exposed about the Warriors was their one fatal flaw for the past two seasons.
Lack of depth.
Strength in Numbers was their motto. And that was not even close to being in full motion since they acquired KD. Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, JaVale McGee, Patrick McCaw, and others were in essence sacrificed to be back on top and remain there.
Now with the injuries to key members of the team, and now a chance to heal up properly, the Warriors are going to be in the distance rebuilding, reloading, and more to the point, retooling their team to what got them to the top –
Strength in Numbers.
It’s going to take about two full seasons for this Warriors team to get back to full strength. But I assure you, once they are at full strength, they will be champions again. It won’t take long, but it will take an even stronger focus than before. Getting the offense tailored to the pieces they have, tinkering with the defense to get better and stronger. They won’t have to worry about the fans being there, they will be there to blow the roof off the Chase Center every night the same way they blew the roof off of Oracle Arena.
Down they are. But definitely not out. And in no way are they….
Over!