The Golden State Warriors seemed to have cemented their place among the greatest NBA dynasties long ago, but losing to Toronto in this year’s NBA Finals could complicate things
Following a disappointing loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors find themselves in an unfamiliar position, facing elimination and the possible end of their dynasty.
The success that Golden State has achieved over the past five years is almost unparalleled in the modern NBA. Led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors have reached five straight NBA Finals, winning three of the past four.
They have rewritten the record books in the process, with Curry and Thompson shattering individual 3-point records, Curry becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history, and the team achieving the first 73-win season ever, breaking the record for regular season wins which the Chicago Bulls had held since 1996.
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The only proverbial bump in the road for the Warriors prior to these Finals was the 2016 NBA Finals, in which the aforementioned 73-win squad squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers after multiple outstanding performances by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. However, just a month later, Golden State added a second league MVP to its roster by signing Kevin Durant.
The signing of Durant was seen by many as a luxury. After all, this was a roster that had already won a title without him and had just experienced the most successful regular season in league history. Therefore, many believed that Golden State did not need Durant in order to win more titles, but his presence simply widened the gap between the Warriors and the rest of the league.
This year’s NBA Finals has made many question this notion, however, as Golden State has looked overmatched without Durant, who has been inactive since suffering a calf injury in a second-round series against the Houston Rockets.
Despite his extended absence, the Warriors fared well against Houston and Portland, winning each game that Durant missed. Toronto, on the other hand, has made the superstar forward’s absence painfully apparent, locking in on Curry on defense and silencing an offensive attack which usually ranks among the league’s best.
Curry, in response, has turned in some fantastic performances, including a 47-point scoring outburst in a Game 3 loss. Thompson has also played well when healthy, scoring 20 or more points in each of the three games he has played. However, even the best efforts of these two superstars simply have not been enough to overcome the Raptors.
Kawhi Leonard, in the midst of one of the best individual postseason performances of all time, has had an answer for everything Golden State has done. He has knocked down tough shots when called upon, played suffocating defense, and has completely taken over games at times.
Although Leonard has been a force, the Warriors are used to such performances from Finals opponents. After all, in the last four NBA Finals, they faced LeBron James, who turned in incredible performances in each of those series. This begs the question: why have Leonard and the Raptors had so much success against Golden State whereas James and the Cavaliers so often struggled?
The simple answer is that while the pieces around James left much to be desired, Leonard’s supporting cast has been fantastic, with every player stepping up when most needed. In Game 1, it was Pascal Siakam, who made 14 of his 17 field goal attempts en route to a 32-point performance, carrying the scoring load with Leonard struggling and leading the Raptors to victory.
In a Game 3 win, Kyle Lowry and Danny Green both caught fire from 3-point range, putting the game out of reach. Serge Ibaka then provided a spark off the bench in Game 4, scoring 20 points on an impressive 9-of-12 shooting. Fred VanVleet has also been terrific, playing quality defense on Curry and hitting some remarkable shots to swing momentum in Toronto’s favor.
With the Warriors facing elimination and the series headed back to Toronto for a potentially decisive Game 5, Golden State looks to be out of answers. The Raptors have neutralized strong performances from the Warriors’ backcourt by playing swarming defense and taking advantage of a lack of depth on Golden State’s part.
The Warriors’ struggles have led many to believe that their postseason success is tied to Durant. After all, it was Durant, not Curry, Thompson, or Draymond Green, who was named the Finals MVP each of the past two years. It was Durant who was responsible for most of Golden State’s success this postseason, averaging a remarkable 34.2 points per game this postseason, per NBA.com’s Advanced Stats.
Golden State is still an elite team without Durant, but he is the piece that makes them truly dominant. As talented as the nucleus of Curry, Thompson, and Green may be, it has become clear that Golden State will likely lose this series without Durant on the floor.
However, this is by no means a foregone conclusion. If the Warriors can somehow come back and win this series without Durant on the floor, they can put these concerns to rest and exorcise some of their own playoff demons by overcoming a 3-1 deficit after famously squandering the same lead against the Cavaliers in 2016.
On the other hand, if Durant comes back and leads Golden State to a third consecutive title, he can stake his claim to the title of the NBA’s best player, a title which James has held for so long. Alex Kennedy, an NBA writer for HoopsHype, suggested as much via Twitter:
If Kevin Durant makes a dramatic return in Game 5 and lifts the Warriors to a championship, it'll be tough for people to downplay that title...
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 8, 2019
Much of this season’s rumors have revolved around Durant’s impending free agency and a possible desire to play for the New York Knicks. By claiming another title, and possibly another Finals MVP, Durant may feel secure enough in his place in history to leave the Warriors for the allure of playing in New York City, attempting to bring a struggling team to glory.
For now, these are all just hypotheticals. Golden State certainly has the talent to win this series with or without Durant, although such a feat is unlikely. However, the outcome of these Finals may determine how Golden State’s dynastic run is remembered 10 years from now.
Will the Warriors be remembered as a dominant force which ushered in the era of superteams en route to four titles? Or might they be remembered as a team which despite its incredible talent ultimately underachieved, leaving much to be desired against opponents deemed to be inferior?
The answer will likely be determined over the coming days. With Durant’s possible departure looming and Toronto holding a commanding lead in this series, the Warriors’ dynasty has never been closer to the end. It is up to Golden State’s stars to cement their place in history, or risk tarnishing an otherwise sterling legacy.