NBA (whenever)...

[Federberg]

here's an interesting thought.. I've heard some pundits in recent years talk about Jokic eventually securing a higher all time ranking than the likes of Steph and Hakeem. This series against the Wolves is pretty much making it clear that the Nuggets window might already be closed... and this is coming from someone who before the playoffs started actually thought (assuming AG, and Watson would be fit) that the Nuggets might be the sneaky winners of it all this year.

To me, the discussion about where Jokic lands all time highlights the difference between better and greater. I don't think he's greater than either Steph or Hakeem, but it's possible he's better than Steph, or at least on par. I don't think he touches Hakeem though.. possibly the best defender of all time (Wemby will of course usurp him), an all time leader, and decent offensive player too. A player so good that no one has ever made an issue of the fact he was the no 1 pick in MJ's draft. I would be fascinated to see someone make that distinction, better vs greater, with all time ranks. That would be a fun discussion

 

[DarthFed]

of all the narratives about the Warriors the one that truly pisses me off is the.. Dubs had to call KD... no! They called KD because he was the best option that was about to be a free agent. But what they needed was someone better than Harrison Barnes. That's it. A not fully fit Steph, Bogut and Iguodala injuries and a Draymond Green suspension and the Cavs needed a wonder shot from Kyrie to win in 7. Where do people get off claiming Golden State couldn't have beaten the Cavs again. The absolute DELUSION!!

When Harrison Barnes was your 5th or even 6th best player I don’t think they “needed” an upgrade. The same Warriors team struggled to beat the Cavs the year before with Dellavedova or Tristin Kardashian as their 2nd best player. And then the 73 win team didn’t beat the Cavs from 3-1 up the following year. They assured themselves of possibly the easiest titles the league has ever seen by getting KD. I don’t fault them for it but let’s call it how it is.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I almost forgot about Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson. They might even be worse than Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. None of these players would ever start on those 2015-19 Warriors teams.

 

[Federberg]

When Harrison Barnes was your 5th or even 6th best player I don’t think they “needed” an upgrade. The same Warriors team struggled to beat the Cavs the year before with Dellavedova or Tristin Kardashian as their 2nd best player. And then the 73 win team didn’t beat the Cavs from 3-1 up the following year. They assured themselves of possibly the easiest titles the league has ever seen by getting KD. I don’t fault them for it but let’s call it how it is.

2015 was their first title mate. It's not a surprise they struggled. It takes time to learn to win. Just like OKC had struggles against the Pacers, and frankly they could easily have lost if Halliburton hadn't gotten injured.

I would say Bogut and Iggy getting injured was a huge deal in 2016. And just as important Steph was clearly compromised. He's never said that by the way, which is a credit to him, but the fact that he's admitted he wasn't fit enough to participate at the Olympics tells the story. It blows my mind that folks completely ignore that and go with the narrative that somehow they wouldn't have been able to compete without KD in 2017. It simply makes zero sense to me. Notice I haven't bothered to mention the Draymond suspension. I think there were a number of wings who could have replaced Harrison Barnes and made the Warriors good enough to beat the Cavs. Have people forgotten how many shots Barnes missed. FG% 35%; 3P% 31%; FT% 60% vs 47%; 38%;76% in the regular season?

I honestly think that over time the constant narrative from the media bamboozles people into believing a thing, whether it's true or not. It's insidious!

Despite all of that it took an incredible effort from the Cavs and Kyrie's dagger shot to beat the Warriors. But somehow we're supposed to believe that was it, they were done? Have we learned nothing about the championship DNA of that team after all this time?