06/13/2017
William here!
Honestly, this season was just something that you couldn't help but marvel at. I remember being a little concerned after the Spurs beat them to start the season, but they hit their typical stride and looked like the same team they have been the past few years.
It was hard to believe that the Warriors could be better, but KD somehow, someway just added another level of depth to a team that already was super in its own right.
Then he got injured, and all of the confidence was shrouded by ambiguity, and we had no idea what would happen to him or the team. Would he be back for the playoffs? Would the team be able to handle the workload without him? Would they be the number one seed again?
Although they were shaky without him at first, they came to look like their old selves, and Durant came back and added that level of intensity back.
Although the regular season was great, I don't know if anyone expected them to completely dominate (and sweep) their way through the Western Conference playoffs. It may not have been the same way had Kawhi Leonard not been injured in Game One of the Spurs series, especially granted how much he was doing to lead the Spurs before his injury, but the Warriors pulled out the game after being down handily, and without Leonard to help, it almost seemed too easy for the Warriors to take the series.
Then came round 3 between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Although the Warriors won by double digits in the first two games, the Cavs seemed like they were step by step with the Warriors, up until momentum shifted heavily in the Warriors favor. Once in Cleveland, it seemed like the undefeated postseason was in jeopardy. The Cavs held Game Three in hand until a late run highlighted by the lead-shifting 3 pointer by Durant kept their hopes at sweeping everyone in tow.
Many would argue that Game Four was not only uncharacteristic basketball by the Warriors, but heavily influenced by early calls against Golden State. Cleveland not only won the game, but got the national audience to recall last year's history when they came back from a 3-1 series deficit to win. (I struggled with including that note, because it was an exceedingly obnoxious point brought up by any non-Warriors supporter). However, their first loss of the postseason meant that they could finally close out a series, and the playoffs as a whole, at home.
Game Five could be considered the closest game of the series, and while the Cavaliers fought to force yet another game in Ohio, the Warriors wanted to finish in front of their home crowd. Ultimately, the electricity inside Oracle Arena proved to be an aid to the Blue and Gold. Kevin Durant continued his MVP run with another 30+ point game, which has been seen only by a handful of other players in the Finals, and the rest of the group is comprised of Hall of Famers.
The Larry O'Brien trophy is once again in Oakland, and it couldn't be a more fitting finish.
