Written by Michael Shapiro at SI.com
The most anticipated Finals of this century ended on Monday night in dramatic fashion. The Warriors staved off the Cavs in Game 5, ending their historic postseason 16–1. Steph Curry received his redemption, Kevin Durant his ring, and the NBA a budding dynasty.
The scene in the Cavs locker room was certainly bleaker than that of the Warriors, who celebrated their first title at home since moving to Oakland. LeBron dropped to 3–5 all-time in the Finals despite another brilliant performance, and once again questions will arise regarding the strength of LeBron’s supporting cast.
The trilogy is now over, with the Dubs holding a 2–1 lead over The King. But will this year’s gentlemen’s sweep be the last time the Warriors and Cavs meet in the Finals? Let’s stare into our proverbial crystal ball, and assess the odds of Cavs-Warriors IV a year from now.
Golden State Warriors
The Dubs’ demolishment of their competition in the playoffs proved what many had wondered since Durant signed on July 4th. There are no true challengers to Golden State’s dominance, not even the greatest player of this generation.
Some would argue Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs would have given the Warriors a run for their money in the Western Conference Finals—especially considering San Antonio’s 23-point lead in Game 1 before Leonard’s injury—but that’s a mere hypothetical. Golden State won 31 of their last 33 games and steamrolled through every team in their path. There’s no doubting the best team won the title this year.
But will we see more of the same next season? The short answer: probably. The core four of Durant, Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will be back once again—assuming Curry and Durant either re-sign or pick-up player options—and Steve Kerr is a master at wringing the most from his bench stable. There’s just too much scoring talent to defend at one time, and when locked in defensively, there may not be a more cohesive unit in the league.
There will certainly be challenges, though. Golden State has eight free agents aside from Curry, many who were integral to the Warriors’ success over the past three years. Former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala will be looking for one more sizable contract, while role players Shaun Livingston and Ian Clarke could find lucrative offers away from the Bay Area. Centers Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee will also both be free agents. While the core will be the same, the Dubs depth could look far different next year.
To continue reading this article, click here
