Tomahawk Tuesday: What are the odds we see a Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals rematch?

 

                                             (Credit: Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports) 

The NBA regular season tips off tonight with both NBA Finals teams playing, though not against each other. The Boston Celtics squared off against the Philadelphia 76ers while the Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA obviously wanting to feature both of their NBA Finals teams on opening night. In this blog post, I want to address the possibility that we see a rematch of last year's NBA Finals with the Warriors and Celtics facing each other for a second straight year. 

What helps to boost the odds of both teams facing off is the fact that they have their core rosters back. The Warriors with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The Celtics with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford. When you bring back a core group that got to the NBA Finals the season before, your odds of getting back are as good as they can get. 

The second thing that helps boost the odds is that the Warriors in particular have been through this rodeo many times before. They've represented the Western Conference in six of the last eight NBA Finals and won four of those six trips. They know what it takes to get back to the NBA Finals. For the Celtics, this is a new journey for them. Whether or not they have what it takes to get back for a second straight year remains to be seen, but if you look at the way things are trending, there's good reason to think they can get back again. 

Aside from injuries, which is always the biggest hurdle to teams getting back to the NBA Finals, probably the biggest hurdle/reason for doubt is the chaos that has surrounded the departure of Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. He was having an improper relationship with a member of the Celtics organization. Whether or not Joe Mazzulla can fill in and guide the Celtics back to the NBA Finals is a big question mark for the Celtics right now. If he can, odds are good Udoka's time in Boston is over. 

On the Warriors side, probably their biggest hurdle is just father time. Curry, Thompson, and Green are all getting older. It's tough to keep playing in June year in and year out and it's possible this last championship was more of a final second wind for the group. But, if there's any group that could navigate this, it's the Warriors. Head coach Steve Kerr does a good job of resting his guys and keeping the eye on the prize. They also have some talented young players who can fill in and take the load off until playoff time. 

Ultimately, if I had to bet on it, I would say we likely won't see both teams back in the NBA Finals in 2023 only because it's just so hard to get back. The Warriors are getting older and it's unclear if they can handle the grind once more while with the Celtics, it's unclear if Mazzulla can get the job done. That said, it wouldn't shock me if we saw a rematch, either. The Warriors do have a lot of experience and the Celtics having now gotten a taste of the NBA Finals are going to be more seasoned and experienced. It'll certainly be fun to see how both teams do and which team does better at getting back for a second straight year. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Should the Golden State Warriors be favored to win the West?

 

                                             (Credit: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press) 

At the moment, the Golden State Warriors are up 3-1 on the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It's the only Western Conference series that's clearly going in favor of one team. The top-seeded Suns are being pushed to the brink by the eight-seeded Pelicans tied 2-2 in their series; the two-seeded Grizzlies are up 3-2 on the seven-seeded Timberwolves after winning 111-109 tonight; and the five-seeded Jazz will look to force a game seven on Thursday against the Mavericks. 

The Warriors are on cruise control right now and assuming they advance, they'll face either a Grizzlies team that got pushed to the brink of elimination or an up and coming Timberwolves team that doesn't seem ready to reach the conference finals. And then who knows who'd be waiting for them in the conference finals if they get there. Even if it's the Suns and Devin Booker is back, the Warriors have more championship experience. And that's really the whole point here. The Warriors are the only team in the entire Western Conference playoffs who have proven championship DNA. Everyone else for one reason or another can be called into question. 

This isn't to say the Warriors are perfect or that they don't have their flaws. They do. There's a reason they didn't get the top seed in the West. But when looking around the rest of the conference, it's hard to not look at the Warriors and think they should be favored to come out on top. Stephen Curry is back, Klay Thompson is back, Draymond Green is healthy, and Jordan Poole is a rising star. They have their core championship unit intact and appear to be heating up at the right time. 

As of this moment, I believe the path to an NBA title out West goes through Golden State. Their overall body of work speaks for itself and nobody else in the conference appears ready to grab the bull by the horns and take control. It'll be interesting to see if Golden State goes on to win the West rather unopposed or if some worthy challenger out of all these other struggling teams will emerge. 

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Saturday Slam: Klay Thompson's return is huge for the Golden State Warriors and fun for the NBA

 

                                             (Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP Images) 

The long awaited return of Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson is finally here. After being out for over 900 days due to a torn ACL and a torn Achilles, Thompson will make his return on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 season due to his ACL and then missed the entire 2020-21 season due to his Achilles. To say the least, it's been a while since we've seen him play in an NBA game. 

For the Warriors, the return of Thompson is huge. He's one of the greatest shooters the NBA has ever seen, cut out of the Ray Allen/Reggie Miller cloth as a lethal shooter in catch and shoot situations. He moves really well without the ball and if you give him any space, he'll hit a three in your face. In the 2018-19 season, Thompson averaged 21.5 points per game on 46.7% shooting from the field, 40.2% shooting from 3-point range, and 81.6% shooting from the foul line. He was an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season and he was just starting to enter the prime of his career before going down with two bad injuries. If he's able to get back to that form or close to it, he'll be a very nice boost to a Warriors team that is 29-9 and looking to get back to the NBA Finals. 

As for the NBA at large, it's just fun to have Klay back. He's a really fun player to watch and has one of the better personalities in the league. He has a bit of a dry sense of humor and is laid back while also being very lethal on the court. As good as Stephen Curry is, I think we've all missed seeing Curry play with Thompson by his side. The Splash Brothers as they have been called, are now back as a duo and the league will be better for it. 

In terms of what we can realistically expect from Thompson, it's probably fair to expect him to be a bit rusty at first. He needs to get back into game conditioning and it could take him a little bit of time to find his rhythm. But in time, I do expect him to get back to being one of the best shooters in the league and who knows, maybe he'll surprise me and get off to a great start on Sunday. Regardless, I'm glad he's back and I hope he's able to stay healthy going forward. 

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Saturday Slam: Stephen Curry has solidified himself as the greatest Warrior

 

                                             (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) 

Not that there was much doubt about who the greatest player in Golden State Warriors history was before this week, Stephen Curry passed Wilt Chamberlain on Monday night to become the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 53 points in a 116-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Becoming the all-time leading scorer in franchise history is fitting for Curry as he has led the organization to three NBA championships and been the backbone of the organization for over a decade. The only thing that stood in his way in terms of solidifying himself as the greatest Warrior of all-time was the scoring record and now he has it. 

What makes Curry so amazing is his consistency and his ability to bring it night in, night out. He's not only the greatest player in Warriors history, he's arguably the greatest shooter in NBA history period. The only other players in NBA history who I think give him any sort of run are Reggie Miller and Ray Allen and I'd still pick Curry over both of those guys for best shooter ever. 

The reason why is Curry is such a lethal shooter off the dribble. Both Miller and Allen were at their best in catch and shoot scenarios, whereas Curry is lethal both in catch and shoot and off the dribble situations. If anything, he's even more dangerous off the dribble, which just makes his shooting all the more impressive. 

As one who likes to see basketball played at its highest level, it's truly a gift to have Stephen Curry still out there doing his thing, torching opponents from deep. He literally is the human flame thrower. Some of those shots he throws up are from another planet it seems. Hopefully he'll continue to dazzle us for a very long time. 

Touching quickly on where things sit for the Warriors, they are 28-28 at the moment and rookie big man James Wiseman is done for the year due to surgery on his knee. They are 9th in the Western Conference standings which means they are right in that sweep spot to make the play in tournament for the playoffs (top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, seeds 7-10 go to a play in tournament). So, they still have a shot to make the playoffs, but the odds of them doing any damage are low. Especially with Wiseman now out as well as Klay Thompson still sidelined. 

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Mock Draft Monday: James Wiseman was the right pick for the Golden State Warriors

 

                                             (Credit: Santiago Mejia-SF Chronicle) 

Like every NBA draft, there is debate about whether or not the right players went to the right teams and vice versa. There is even more scrutiny about the guys who go towards the top of the draft and this year's draft is no exception. Last week, the Golden State Warriors selected former Memphis Tigers big man James Wiseman #2 overall with LaMelo Ball still on the board. Given the season-ending Achilles injury to Klay Thompson, many wondered whether or not the Warriors should take Ball instead since he's a guard who can shoot the ball and create plays for others. I.e. Perhaps Ball could be an insurance policy for Thompson. 

While this line of thinking isn't all bad, the Warriors were still smart to take Wiseman. He's a versatile, 7'1", 247 pound big man who can run the floor, block shots, score around the rim, rebound, and maybe even score from the midrange. There's a ton to like about him and given his unique package, the Warriors would have been foolish to pass on him. I understand that a guard may be a more pressing need, but the Warriors need to think big picture here, which is why Wiseman was the right pick. 

The one thing the Warriors have lacked over the past few seasons is an impact big man that can do it all on both ends of the floor. Assuming Thompson is able to make a full recovery as expected, the Warriors will have an added dimension that they haven't had before. In addition to their perimeter shooting, stellar guard play, and killer small ball lineups, they'll have a big man who can give them another look that they haven't had before. Some could argue it's a look they don't need, but still, having a big man who can do the things Wiseman does should be welcomed on this team. Plus, their other draft pick is a pretty talented guard in Nico Mannion, who I followed closely during his high school and college career. So, it's not like they didn't address their guard needs at all in this draft. 

In addition to being a good fit for this current Warriors team, Wiseman also has the potential to be a player who they can build their franchise around in the future. Impactful big men like Wiseman don't grow on trees and if you can scoop one up in the draft, you really have no reason to not do so. Hell, one could argue the Timberwolves weren't smart to pass on him even with the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns. 

The bottom line is when you look at what this Warriors team needs right now and what they need for the future, James Wiseman was clearly the right guy for them to pick. He gives them a post presence they've been lacking and a potential superstar to build around. Warriors fans should be very excited about how their team did in this draft. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: It's nice to have Stephen Curry back

                                         (Credit: Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters) 

On Thursday, March 5th, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry returned to the lineup against the Toronto Raptors, finishing with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Raptors won the game 121-113, reminding us that they are indeed contenders to the win the NBA championship despite no longer having Kawhi Leonard. But the big story of the night was the return of Curry, who had missed 58 games due to a broken left hand. Curry has since missed the last couple of games with the flu, but is expected to be back on Thursday against the Nets.

What I wanted to quickly do in this blog post is express my gratitude that Curry is back. Whether you are a fan of the Warriors or not, chances are you've been entertained by Curry's wizardry on a basketball court. His incredible dribbling moves, his wide array of shot making, and ability to leave your jaw on the floor in sheer awe. Curry is a gift to the game of basketball and I for one am glad to have him back. Even if we won't see him in the playoffs this year.

Hopefully Curry will be able to play out the rest of this season and give us a taste of what's to come next year when Klay Thompson returns to the fold. This Warriors team isn't done contending for championships yet and provided they get their key pieces back, they should be a force next year and beyond. So to some extent, the rest of the NBA should enjoy this year while they have it because next year, the Warriors are going to be back to their usual tricks.

One final thought is that we never know how long these great basketball players are with us. While most of them are with us for a very long time, sometimes we sadly lose them before we are ready to say goodbye. In that vein, I just want to say that I'm glad we got Steph back, I'm glad he's healthy, and I hope he has many more years ahead of him where he can entertain us and remind us why he's one of the most unique talents to ever step on a basketball court.

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Mock Draft Monday: Going to the Golden State Warriors offers the best of both worlds

If you head over to NBADraft.net, a site that I contribute to during the months leading up to the NBA draft, you'll notice that the Golden State Warriors are currently projected to get the top pick in 2020. Of course, one cannot predict the lottery and how that will shake out, but regardless, at the rate they're going, the 5-23 Warriors are going to end up with a really nice draft pick.

Typically, most teams picking in the top five of the NBA draft are rebuilding and a few years away at least from being serious contenders. The Warriors are an exception as they were in the NBA finals last season. They are only in tank mode due to Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry both getting injured. Come the 2020-21 season, both guys should be back to full strength and ready to gun for another championship alongside the help of a top rookie.

If you are one who is gifted enough to see themselves at the top of these mock draft boards, you have to be praying to go to the Warriors. You'll get paid top rookie money and not have to be a part of a long rebuilding process. Instead, you'll instantly get to be a part of a team that is eager to get back to the NBA finals.

As for what kind of rookie the Warriors should be targeting, they could use more help in the front court, making Memphis big man James Wiseman and Duke big man Vernon Carey logical targets. Given the presence of Thompson and Curry, it wouldn't make sense for the Warriors to go with a point guard or a wing unless they really fall in love with one. Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards might turn out to be such a wing.

As we head into 2020, it will be interesting to see how the Warriors do and if they fully embrace tanking. I wrote a blog post earlier about how they should do that and given where they are in the standings right now, it looks like they're taking my advice to heart. It kind of sucks for Warriors fans to watch their team struggle to this degree, but with Thompson and Curry set to return next year alongside a lottery pick, the future remains bright.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Golden State Warriors should tank this season

After losing on Monday night to the Utah Jazz on their home floor by a final score of 122-108, the Golden State Warriors have fallen to 2-9 on the season. Stephen Curry is out 3+ months with a fractured hand, Klay Thompson is out for likely the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, and as a whole, this Warriors team looks nothing like they have in past seasons. Their starting lineup against the Jazz was D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Poole, Draymond Green, Glenn Robinson III, and Willie Cauley-Stein. Talk about a different looking lineup!

What makes this extra painful for the Warriors is the fact that they just moved into the Chase Center, their new arena in San Francisco. When you move into a new arena, you're beginning a new era and no team wants to begin a new era like this. Ideally, they would be playing competitive basketball and once again putting themselves in the mix to get a high seed in the Western Conference.

But alas, that is not the case. The Warriors are struggling and instead are on pace for the worst record in the Western Conference and possibly the NBA! It's crazy how much they've fallen from last year! The only silver lining in all of this is that with Thompson likely out for the year anyways, the Warriors were not going to win the NBA championship this year. This was going to be a rebuilding season, so if you're going to rebuild for a year, why not take it to the max and go full tank mode?

The Warriors' core trio of Curry, Thompson, and Green is getting older and they won't be around forever. Getting a really talented rookie to add to the mix just might be what this team needs more than anything else, hence the need to tank. If they can somehow land a top three or even top five pick in next year's draft, the Warriors may bounce right back and once again be a contender within a year or two.

As much as the Warriors' front office doesn't want to swallow this pill, the best thing they can do is just ignore this year and be willing to lose as many games as possible. The higher the draft pick they get for next year, the better.

                                           (Credit: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

One major decision the Warriors have to make is what to do with D'Angelo Russell, who has shown some promise as is evident by his 52 point explosion against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He could be a nice piece for them to hang onto or he might be better used as a trade chip to help them rebuild. It's not obvious what the Warriors should do with him, so they better use these next couple of months to closely evaluate him. If there's one thing Warriors fans should watch for this season, it's what their team does with Russell. 

Given that they're already tanking the season without even trying to, the Warriors might as well embrace the current and flow with it. Fighting it and trying to salvage this season in the long run is the wrong thing to do. Their sights need to be set on next season and beyond. If they can have this perspective, things should work out alright for them. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Everyone is sleeping on the Golden State Warriors

Due to the departure of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson's torn ACL, many assume the 2020 Western Conference champion will be someone other than the Golden State Warriors, who have won the last five Western Conference titles. While there are a lot of good teams in the Western Conference that could certainly dethrone them, it has been surprising how many people, including myself, seem to have forgotten just how much of a strangle hold the Warriors have had. 

I don't want to undermine the significance of losing Durant and the injury to Thompson. Durant was huge to the Warriors' championship runs and Thompson, the second Splash Brother, is a killer back court mate for Stephen Curry. The road just got harder for the Warriors, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for them to conquer. Below are three reasons why the Warriors can still get back to the NBA Finals in 2020. 

#1. Stephen Curry: If there is one player who has had to sacrifice their ego to make this Warriors team work, it's Stephen Curry. Before Durant came aboard, the Warriors were Curry's team and he did a masterful job of running them. Now, once again, the Warriors belong to Curry and you can bet that he is excited. Plus, Curry knows how much he and his team are being overlooked. Look for a very motivated and focused Curry this season. That should scare everyone in the NBA. 

#2. Experience: When you have been to five straight NBA Finals, one thing you definitely have is experience. The Warriors have been through a lot as a team and have always found a way to come out of the West anyways. They know how to dig deep and go to the well better than any team in the NBA. The rest of the Western Conference is much more unproven and until someone comes along and proves that they can beat them, the Dubs deserve the respect that five straight NBA Finals appearances gets you. 

#3. Klay Thompson isn't out for the year: While the Warriors will start the season without Klay, he's not done for the season. He should be back after the All-Star break and help the Warriors make a championship run come playoff time. So long as they have the Splash Brothers as well as Draymond Green, the Warriors should be feeling pretty good. On top of that, they have an amazing head coach in Steve Kerr who can be trusted to make the right adjustments. 

The bottom line: The Warriors have made five straight NBA Finals appearances for a reason and still have a ton of talent and experience. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr have been through the fire before and know what it takes to go all the way. I understand the Western Conference has a lot of interesting new flavors, but that shouldn't make us forget who has been winning the West over these last several years. 

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Wednesday Windmill: The Toronto Raptors are in the driver's seat to win the NBA Finals

                                         (Credit: Frank Gunn-The Associated Press) 

On Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 123-109 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard had a huge game with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, doing a little bit of everything to help the Raptors get the win. As for Stephen Curry, he was sensational on the other side for the Warriors, scoring a playoff career-high 47 points to go along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. The problem for him was he didn't get enough help as Klay Thompson (hamstring), Kevin Durant (calf), and Kevon Looney (collar bone) were all out.

I said on Tuesday that the Warriors would be hard pressed to win without Thompson and that certainly proved to be the case in Game 3. Basketball is a team sport and when you lose enough guys, it's tough for any team to win. Even if they have a guy as good as Curry on their team.

At this point in time, the Raptors are in the driver's seat to win this series. They've stolen home court advantage right back, putting all the pressure on the Warriors to win Game 4 on Friday. By extension, there's a ton of pressure on the Warriors to get Thompson back. Without him, I don't see them winning another game in this series.

On that note, Steve Kerr sounded optimistic that Thompson would play on Friday in his post-game comments while sounding much less sure about Durant. If I had to guess, I would say Thompson plays on Friday while Durant will once again be inactive. Odds are starting to look good that Durant won't play at all in this series and that the Warriors have known this the whole time.

Assuming Thompson is a go on Friday, the Warriors still have a chance to win this series, but the odds are not in their favor. The Raptors have the advantage now and need to make sure they shut the door on the Warriors while they can do it.

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Saturday Slam: The Golden State Warriors have to win Game 2 in Toronto

                                          (Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) 

On Thursday, the Toronto Raptors dominated the Golden State Warriors 118-109 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Pascal Siakam went off for 32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks while Kawhi Leonard finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. As well as Stephen Curry played (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), he didn't get the help he needed and now his team finds themselves in a must win situation in Game 2, which tips off Sunday night in Toronto at 8:00 PM EST on ABC.

Going into this series, I said the Raptors had to defend Jurassic Park like their lives depended on it and so far they are doing just that. Granted it's only been one game, but their performance in Game 1 was very impressive. Especially when you consider the fact that they came in as two point favorites. If they are able to take a 2-0 series lead and defend Jurassic Park once again, they'll be in the driver's seat to win this series.

I hate to call games "must win" this early on in a series, but this game really does feel like one the Warriors have to get. If they go down 0-2, I don't see them winning four straight games to win the series, which means that a Game 7 is the best case scenario that they can hope for. In Game 7, you always have to pick the home team. Even if the road team is as good as the Warriors.

If the Warriors want to avoid an 0-2 hole, they first need to take much better care of the ball. In Game 1, they turned the ball over 16 times, allowing the Raptors to get out in transition. If they are as sloppy with the ball in Game 2 as they were in Game 1, they will not come out victorious.

Secondly, Stephen Curry needs to get more help. Draymond Green (10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Klay Thompson (21 points and 5 rebounds) played well, but they were the only players that helped out. Andre Iguodala was quiet, Kevon Looney didn't do much, and DeMarcus Cousins was a big dud. Someone else on this Warriors team needs to step up to give Curry, Green, and Thompson the help they need.

Third, the Warriors have to do a much better job on Siakam, who ate them for lunch in Game 1. The Warriors didn't seem to know how good Siakam was, but now they can consider themselves warned. If he has a big outing in Game 2, I don't see how the Warriors win. Especially since Leonard can be expected to be more productive.

The bottom line here is the Warriors have to win Game 2 on Sunday. They cannot go down 0-2 and expect to win this series even if Kevin Durant does return for Game 3 and beyond. The Raptors are too good.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Three things the Golden State Warriors need to do to defeat the Toronto Raptors

The NBA Finals begins on Thursday and in order to preview the event, I want to quickly address what the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors each need to do to win the series. I'll be keeping it simple by listing three keys to the series for each team. Up first is the Warriors and yes, I'm going old school with the logo because I love old school NBA logos!

#1. Clamp down on Kawhi Leonard: If the Golden State Warriors want to win this series, the first thing they need to do is make sure they put the clamps on Kawhi Leonard, who has been having an amazing run in these playoffs averaging 31.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 50.7% shooting from the field, 38.8% shooting from 3-point range, and 87.5% shooting from the foul line. If he goes wild, the Warriors will be leaving the door open for the Raptors to win.

#2. Get a split in Toronto: Everyone seems to think the Warriors are going to cruise to a third straight NBA championship, but that's no guarantee considering the fact that the Raptors have home court advantage. If the Warriors are unable to win one of the first two games in Toronto, I don't see them winning. Especially since they haven't been invincible at home in the playoffs.

#3. Play Warriors basketball: The third key to the Warriors winning this series is to play the same style of basketball they've been playing ever since Kevin Durant went out. That style, predicated on ball movement, defense, and frenetic shooting, is incredibly tough to stop given their unique personnel. When you got Stephen Curry nailing threes while also creating scoring opportunities for Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, it's game over. When the Warriors get stagnant, don't move the ball, and get sloppy, that's when they become mortal.

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Saturday Slam: DeMarcus Cousins' Warriors debut should scare the rest of the NBA

                                            (Credit: Mark J. Terril/Associated Press)

On Friday, DeMarcus Cousins made his Golden State Warriors debut in Los Angeles against the Clippers, finishing with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in just 15 minutes of action. The Warriors won the game 112-94, keeping themselves half a game up on the Denver Nuggets, who they dominated earlier this week in Denver (Click here to read more about that).

Even though it is just one game, seeing a relatively good DeMarcus Cousins in a Warriors uniform has to scare the rest of the NBA and justify all the initial panic that ensued upon his signing. While some people, including myself, urged caution about the move given the severity of Cousins' Achilles injury, I think it's safe to say that if he can even play like this going forward, it's going to be almost impossible to stop the Warriors.

As if it wasn't enough to have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors now add a talented big man to the fold that can protect the rim, crash the boards, and give them a legitimate inside presence on offense. With a smaller front court, the blueprint to beating the Warriors was to go inside and take advantage of their lack of size. With Cousins now healthy, that's no longer a viable option.

What will be interesting to see is how opposing teams adjust to this new look Warriors team and what moves are made before the trade deadline. Even if such moves do occur, it's hard seeing any move that can effectively counter it. DeMarcus Cousins takes the Warriors from being scary good to being like really really scary good.

The last point I want to make is that teams complaining about this move have only themselves to blame. No one wanted Cousins, which is why the Warriors so easily scooped him up for just $5.3M. If the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, or Rockets really wanted to make sure the Warriors didn't add a guy like Cousins, they should have signed him for an ever bigger contract. No one likes the rich getting richer, but when you leave them with a pot of gold to take for free, who can really blame them for taking it?

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Golden State Warriors just lit up the Denver Nuggets

Earlier today, I got a text from my buddy Brandon Condron that the Golden State Warriors (30-14) dropped 51 points in a quarter against the Denver Nuggets (29-14) and I couldn't believe it. I mean, I could believe it because this is the Warriors and getting buckets is what they do, but you know what I mean, staggering stuff. As expected, the Warriors went on to this win this game 142-111 as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each scored 31 points while Kevin Durant chipped in 27 of his own. With the win, the Warriors leapfrog the Nuggets to reclaim the top spot in the Western Conference.

It would be one thing if the Warriors did this at home, but it's another for them to do this in Denver on the Nuggets' home floor. If you're the Nuggets, this is a tough loss to shake. It's going to be very hard for these guys to face themselves in the mirror and still believe they can really win the West.

By sending the Nuggets a strong message, the Warriors send the rest of the NBA a message that they are still the best team in the league. During this regular season, the Warriors haven't been their regular dominating selves and yet here they are blowing out the top team in the West on the road to reclaim the top spot. If that doesn't send shivers down the spines of the rest of the league, I don't know what will.

As if tonight's win wasn't enough, the Warriors can look forward to getting DeMarcus Cousins back this Friday when they travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers. By adding him to the fold, their front court gets some extra depth and one more big body that can rebound, score, and protect the rim. While I don't yet know how much we should expect from Cousins, just having him out there can only be a good thing for this Warriors team.

The lesson from today is that if you are wondering whether or not the Warriors still got it or whether or not they're still serious championship contenders, the answer is a resounding yes. Come playoff time, these guys will still be the team to get through to win the NBA title. Believing otherwise is wishful thinking.

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Saturday Slam: The Golden State Warriors built a dynasty the right way

                                          (Credit: The Associated Press)

On Friday, the Golden State Warriors completed their four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third NBA championship in four years. Kevin Durant (28.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists) was NBA Finals MVP for a second consecutive year and the Warriors officially etched themselves into NBA history as a true dynasty. As phenomenal as LeBron James was in the NBA Finals (34.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists), the Warriors were the better team and it showed over the course of the series.

A lot of people like to taint the Warriors' championships by saying they are too stacked and that it's unfair they are this good. Such remarks are very shortsighted. A person who makes these remarks is only thinking of the addition of Kevin Durant, forgetting that this team won a championship and reached the NBA Finals twice before he got there. In order to attract a star of Kevin Durant's magnitude, you need to put a winning formula in place and to the Warriors' credit, they did just that, building through the draft, making smart trades, and bringing in quality free agents.

Starting with the draft, the Warriors' scouting department and front office has knocked it out of the park, drafting Stephen Curry with the 7th overall pick in 2009, Klay Thompson with the 11th overall pick in 2011, and Draymond Green with the 35th overall pick in 2012. Those three guys are the foundation of this team. They were together long before Kevin Durant got to Golden State.

If there is one moment that we can look back on that definitively marks the beginning of this new Warriors era, it would be the trade that sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut. Monta Ellis doesn't get enough credit for how good he was and what he did for the Warriors' organization, but at the same time he wasn't a guy who you could build a championship team around. By moving Ellis for a big man that could anchor a championship caliber defense, the Warriors' front office showed they cared more about winning championships than getting on highlight reels. That trade is what officially put the Warriors on the trajectory that they are currently on.

Before the Warriors landed Kevin Durant in free agency, they landed another quality free agent in Andre Iguodala in the summer of 2013. Iguodala had been traded to the Denver Nuggets in the previous season from the Philadelphia 76ers and decided he didn't want to stay in Denver, opting to sign with the Warriors instead. Little did the Warriors know, but Iguodala would go on to be NBA Finals MVP in 2015, playing an integral role in their first of three championships in four seasons.

To cap everything off, the Warriors landed Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, officially establishing themselves as an NBA juggernaut. The move sparked some controversy as the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals while the Thunder had also blown a 3-1 lead to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. To make the optics look even worse, the Warriors were coming off of a 73-9 season, the best regular season record in NBA history. It just looked like the rich getting richer while also acknowledging that they didn't have enough to beat LeBron James.

While it's certainly understandable for NBA fans to be upset at how this all unfolded, one certainly cannot blame the Warriors for making the moves that they did. If you have the cap space to add Kevin Durant to a roster that already consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, you should do it. It's a no brainer decision.

Regardless of how you feel about the Warriors, one thing cannot be denied: They built their team the right way. They drafted and scouted well, made good trades, added quality free agents, and put themselves in a position to attract Kevin Durant. They took no short cuts and are being handsomely rewarded as a result.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: How concerned should the Golden State Warriors be about their injuries?

At 54-20, the Golden State Warriors currently sit 6.5 games back of the top seeded Houston Rockets in the Western Conference standings. While still having a really good regular season, the Warriors are not a slam dunk to come out of the Western Conference for a fourth consecutive season. There are two main reasons for this. The first being that the Rockets are really good. The second being that they are dealing with a lot of injuries. I recently wrote about the Rockets and why they are dangerous, so I will address the latter in this article, focusing on the Warriors’ injury woes.

At the moment, the Warriors’ injury report reads as follows: Stephen Curry is out 3+ weeks due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee; Klay Thompson has missed seven games due to a sprained right thumb and is likely out through the rest of the week at least; Draymond Green has missed three games due to a pelvic contusion and is listed as day-to-day; and Kevin Durant has missed six straight games due to a rib fracture, though he is hopeful to return on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

While it is certainly possible that the Warriors heal up in time for the playoffs and overcome these injuries, what has to concern them is the sheer number of games that they’ve played over the past few seasons. The hardest part about reaching four straight NBA Finals is overcoming the sheer volume of games that is required to do so. Playing over 100 NBA games in one season takes a tremendous toll on the bodies of these players. To try to do that four times in a row is insane. The Warriors are starting to show signs of breaking down and it seems to be due to all the games that they have played.

The most troublesome injury is definitely Curry’s MCL sprain. He’s out for at least 3 weeks and possibly more pending on how his knee looks upon reevaluation. Given the nature of his injury, it’s no guarantee he returns at all this season and that has to worry the Warriors a great deal. Even if he is able to return, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to be close to full strength. Curry is the heart and soul of this Warriors team. Without him, it’s really hard to see the Warriors repeating as NBA champions.

As for how concerned the Warriors should be, if I were going on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not concerned at all and 10 being full blown panic, I would say their level of concern should be at a 7. Winning a championship is just as much about surviving the grind of an NBA schedule as it is about being the best team. The grind appears to be catching up with the Warriors and with 24+ games to go in the season, their chances of surviving it for another year look dicey.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Golden State Warriors are virtually unstoppable

As we head into the 2017-18 NBA season, we see a league that looks very different than it did last year. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves all have new looks and should prove to be very exciting teams. However, none of these teams made moves that should take the Golden State Warriors off their perch as the top team in the league.

The Warriors' only obstacle to defending their title is health. So long as they stay healthy, they will win the NBA championship again. They simply have too many weapons. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Draymond Green are good enough to be the go to option on nearly every other team in the league. Collectively, they form a unit that is virtually unstoppable.

What makes these five guys so tough to stop is their versatility and ability to play elite basketball on both ends of the floor, both inside and out. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson form the most frightening three-point shooting duo the league has ever seen and Kevin Durant is one of the most lethal scorers the league has ever seen due to his combination of size, skill, and athleticism. As for Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, those guys are some of the best defenders in the league, capable of making things tough on the best of players in the league. They're also guys who you can't leave open on offense.

Outside of those five guys, the Warriors have some very solid role players like JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Nick Young, Shaun Livingston, etc. They don't just have a ton of talent. They have a ton of talent with depth. It's not like you can easily make up ground when their stars are resting. They have a second string that is good enough to hang with most starting lineups in the league, allowing them to give their stars ample rest and not wear them out too much during the grueling regular season.

Unfortunately for the Warriors' opponents, it's highly unlikely the injury bug derails their season. When you have a team as deep as the Warriors, you can keep your stars fresh and still win games handily. That's what makes this Warriors team close to unbeatable. Nobody can beat them in a seven game series when they are at full strength and even if a couple guys get hurt, they're still probably the favorites.

This upcoming NBA season promises to be very exciting due to all the moves that have happened, but make no mistake; there should be very little drama when it comes to who wins it all. The Warriors are way out in front of everybody else and will practically need to hand the Larry O'Brien Trophy to another team to not come out on top.

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Western Conference Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off today (Sunday) at 3:30 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, CA with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs squaring off. The Warriors come into this series having swept the Utah Jazz 4-0 while the Spurs come in having taken out the Houston Rockets in six games.

The big question that is on everyone's minds as we enter this series is whether or not the Warriors have finally found their match in the Spurs or at least an opponent who they won't be able to sweep. So far, the Warriors have been on absolute cruise control, not dropping a single game through two rounds.

While the Warriors are and should be favored to win this series, I do not see this series being another sweep for Golden State. The Spurs are just too experienced and talented to go down without a fight. While the Warriors have perhaps the most dangerous two-way lineup the league has ever seen in Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, the Spurs have some pieces of their own in Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and Danny Green.

Don't get me wrong, the Warriors' lineup is better on paper, but where the Spurs can make up the difference is the way they play together as a team and also the presence of Kawhi Leonard, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. For those that don't know, Leonard (ankle) will play in Game 1 of this series, which is obviously fantastic news for the Spurs. If the Spurs want any chance of winning this series, they need to have a big series from Leonard and also find ways to get Aldridge, Gasol, Ginobili, Mills, and Green rolling.

The Spurs have somewhat strayed away from their usual model of getting everyone involved through having Kawhi Leonard carry them perhaps too much. It's a tricky line to balance since on the one hand you want your best player making plays, but at the same time you don't want to stray away from the identity that has made you a championship contender since the late 1990s. If the Spurs can find that right balance, they could have what it takes to win this series.

As for the Warriors, if they want to win this series, they just have to keep doing what they are doing. As cliché as that sounds, it's really true. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball all season and it's up to the Spurs to make the necessary adjustments to make this series competitive. Kevin Durant has been brilliant so far in these playoffs and Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, and Green have proven themselves to be a fantastic supporting cast around him. The bottom line is the Warriors are just too loaded and it's really hard to see them not winning this series in five or six games.

Given that I really respect the Spurs and the ability that Gregg Popovich has to make adjustments, I have the Warriors winning this series in six games. The Spurs will find ways to make things tough, but in the end, they won't be able to take this series to a Game 7 in Oakland.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can anyone stop the Golden State Warriors?

The Golden State Warriors have gone 8-0 in the NBA Playoffs so far, sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz without hardly breaking a sweat. The Jazz I thought would give the Warriors a serious challenge, but in the end, they were no match for the juggernauts of the Western Conference.

While the Warriors can kick back and drink some Kool-Aid, the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are engaged in an epic battle that appears to be going the distance (Spurs up 3-2). With Tony Parker out for the playoffs, it's hard to see the Spurs having enough juice to take the Warriors out while the Rockets' style of play is basically a B-grade version of what the Warriors already do.

With the way things are going, it's really hard to see anyone stopping this Golden State Warriors team. When you add Kevin Durant to a team that already consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, you have something really scary. The Warriors are almost too good. While it's a thing of beauty to watch them play basketball, it's also a little bit boring just because we already know the outcome of each series they enter. We knew the Warriors would take out the Trail Blazers, we knew the Warriors would take out the Jazz, and I'm already comfortable saying that we know the Warriors will take out the winner of the Spurs/Rockets series.

The Warriors have too many weapons and they all know how to play together. We've seen teams try to stockpile on talent and have it backfire. What makes the Warriors' formula work is that their pieces all know how to play together and are willing to make sacrifices for each other. There are no egos on this team. The willingness of this cast of players to make sacrifices for each other is what makes this team virtually unstoppable.

With this being the case, can anyone stop this Warriors team? The answer yes, but there is only one team who can: The Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Warriors are the more talented and deeper team, the Cavaliers have LeBron James, who is still the best basketball player in the world. The Cavaliers have a ton of weapons in their own right with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Kyle Korver in addition to LeBron James. They have the pieces to take out this Warriors team, but even for them it will be no easy task.

Without giving away my inevitable Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals preview, I will say that at this point, the only team who can take out the Golden State Warriors is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Everyone else in these playoffs can go home and figure out how to get better over the summer. I know it sounds harsh, but it's the truth.

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Saturday Slam: What the loss of Kevin Durant means for the Warriors

Earlier this week, it was announced that Golden State Warriors small forward Kevin Durant will be reevaluated in 4 weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his left knee and a tibial bone bruise. Durant has been the best player on this 50-11 Warriors team, averaging 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Durant has been so valuable that he has actually been the Warriors' top rim protector as well as their most efficient scorer. He's been the ultimate small ball player. 

Now with their jack-of-all trades small ball weapon out for at least 4 weeks, the Warriors need to find a way to keep in front of the 47-13 San Antonio Spurs for the #1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. It won't be easy, but the good news is that we know that even without Durant, the Warriors might still be the best team in the NBA. 

Speaking a little bit more specifically, the absence of Durant means that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson need to take on more of the scoring load. Durant leads the team in scoring, but Curry and Thompson are right behind him, Curry averaging 24.8 points per game and Thompson averaging 21.8 points per game. The fourth leading scorer on the team is Draymond Green at 10.2 points per game, so there really is a huge drop off in terms of scoring production after Durant, Curry, and Thompson. It will be up to "The Splash Brothers" to make up for Durant's production and be the ones who carry the offense until he returns. 

On defense, that's really where Draymond Green will have to step up. Green is averaging 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game to go along with 8.1 rebounds (6.8 defensive). The Warriors will miss Durant's rim protection and so it will really be up to Green to protect the rim and not allow easy baskets inside. Green is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA and he will certainly need to play like it during this stretch without Durant. 

The good news for the Warriors is that Kevin Durant should be back in time for the playoffs and they also have enough weapons to survive for the short term. If he was out for the season, that would be much more concerning, but since he should be back in a reasonable amount of time, I don't see this set back as anything too serious. The Warriors have embraced the whole "Strength In Numbers" team mentality and don't care having to share the spotlight with each other. This mentality should serve them well during this stretch and keep them in possession of the #1 seed in the West. 

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