How The NBA Playoffs Will Determine The Golden State Warriors’ Future
By Jacob Little
The Golden State Warriors have won 15 of their last 16 games. The only loss? A double OT thriller to Houston.
The Golden State Warriors have emerged as the team everyone thought they would be since Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Dubs this past offseason. The Warriors have been absolutely dismantling teams this year, they have the highest point differential in the NBA at +14.0 points per game.
On top of that, the Warriors are scoring 120.0 points per game this season (eight points per game more than the next best).
Needless to say, the Golden State Warriors have put together a super team with more talent than the NBA has ever seen. Not only do they arguably have four of the top 15 players in the league, but they are the most unselfish team in the NBA. The Warriors are averaging 32.0 assists per game (7.5 more assists per game than the next best).
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As if leading the league in point differential, scoring and assists per game was not enough to convince you of the utter dominance of this team, they also lead the league in steals per game and blocks per game.
Just How Good Are The Warriors?
Currently the Warriors have a league best 19-3 record. Not only are they playing well as a team, but they are putting on incredible individual performances as well.
What if I told you that a player had the ball in his hands for 90 seconds and only took 11 dribbles (on plays in which he scored) throughout 29 minutes of playing time? Then, what if I told you that same player scored 60 points in the game?
That player was Klay Thompson in Monday’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
On November 8th against the Pelicans, Stephen Curry broke the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a single game (13). The previous 3-point record was 12 which was held by three players: Kobe Bryant, Donyell Marshell and Stephen Curry himself. Curry finished the game with 46 points on 16-26 attempts (13-17 from 3-point land).
On November 10th, Kevin Durant’s streak of scoring 20+ points in consecutive regular season games came to an end. The streak (72 games) was tied with none other than Michael Jordan for the longest 20-point streak in the past 50 seasons, and the fourth longest streak of all-time.
Whats more impressive than all three of those performances? That all three of those players are on the same team. The Warriors are easily the most talented team the NBA has ever seen, and it’s not even really that close. The scariest part is that they could stick together and dominate the league for the next 3-4 years.
How The Playoffs Will Determine The Warriors Future
With that being said, if the Warriors fail to take home the NBA Title in June, the season is a failure. There has already been rumors of Stephen Curry possibly returning home to Charlotte as he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
So, just for fun, lets say the Warriors fail to win the NBA Championship this year. Curry becomes a free agent in the offseason, and Kevin Durant can opt out to become an unrestricted free agent. All of a sudden the Warriors enter panic mode and could lose out on two of the top three players in the league.
On the other hand, say the Warriors end up winning the NBA Championship in June. You have to assume Curry would re-sign and Durant would choose not to opt out of his contract. If the Warriors can win it this year, why wouldn’t they be able to next year?
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Ultimately, the Golden State Warriors should end up in the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers once again. While it will be a series for the ages, in my eyes, the Golden State Warriors will be too much for the Cleveland Cavaliers to handle.