The NBA is in BIG trouble

Sure, the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry of the 1980’s was good for the league, its popularity, and its growth- however, this Warriors vs. Cavaliers match-up is NO longer a rivalry. The Warriors (and I say this begrudgingly) are officially playing basketball on an entirely different tier.

Last night was all the proof that any (even casual) NBA fans needed that the Golden State Warriors are playing basketball on another PLANET. Even “The Mighty I.T.”, (the Celtic’s Isaiah Thomas), would probably agree that the Warriors could take on both the Toon Squad AND the MonStars. Isaiah referenced the movie ‘Spacejam’ earlier in these NBA playoffs, when he told reporters that, “(the Cleveland Cavaliers) are not impossible to beat – it isn’t like they’re The Monstars”. And it is looking like he was right it was just a different team, the Warriors, NOT the Cavaliers, that are clearly unmatched.

The Golden State Warriors have not only won the last 3 games, but until last night, 14 of their 15 playoffs games that they have played so far this post-season (with exception to being down during the first quarter in the first game in their series vs. the San Antonio Spurs) have been absolute blow outs. I mean, I know that this IS a game and IS meant to be played “for fun”, but during the NBA FINALS, it shouldn’t look as EASY and as “fun” as it is right now for the Warriors. They are literally too good of a team to beat.

This poses a HUGE problem for the NBA and its future sustainability as a viable “competitive” league. Sure, they may be nailing the demographic of younger kids, who watch games on TV, wear the shoes and jerseys of their favorite players, and are “buying” NBA merchandise (with their parents money, obviously). However, with NBA fans like me (age 25 and older), ESPECIALLY fans with “basketball knowledge” who are not just “casual fans”, there is a GLARING issue with the balance and parody of the league. All season long fans were lead to believe that, yeah, the regular season is essentially “meaningless” because you could pencil in the Warriors from the West and the Cavaliers from the East in the Finals. BUT, these same fans were also lead to believe (with good reason) that this would AT LEAST be comparable to the Lakers vs. Celtics domination of the 1980s era of the NBA; when everyone knew that these were going to be the two teams competing for the championship, but it would be worth it because the games between these two games would be (and proved to be) legendary.Despite what happens in game 4, it was made extremely clear that the Golden State Warriors are THE team. There is no Lakers vs. Celtics comparison that can be made anymore, because the Cavaliers JUST proved that no matter how hard they try, on their home-court, they still could not manage to beat the Warriors. It is almost as if the Warriors are literally telling each other in the locker room before games, “hey man, its YOUR turn to drop 30 points tonight, I just did last game…” This is a LEGITIMATE “Super Team”, and a team that can only lose games if they lose focus and beat themselves.

Despite what happens in game 4, it was made extremely clear that the Golden State Warriors are THE team. There is no Lakers vs. Celtics comparison that can be made anymore, because the Cavaliers JUST proved that no matter how hard they try, on their home-court, they still could not manage to beat the Warriors. It is almost as if the Warriors are literally telling each other in the locker room before games, “hey man, its YOUR turn to drop 30 points tonight, I just did last game…” This is a LEGITIMATE “Super Team”, and a team that can only lose games if they lose focus and beat themselves.

So, here is the issue, if even “educated” basketball fans and analysts agree that unless SOMETHING happens, the Warriors will AND should win at least 6 championships, as they should have won last year, but didn’t; and it paid off in spades by them acquiring one of the greatest players, and probably greatest SCORER in the NBA, Kevin Durant.

With the regular season already viewed as “meaningless” by both the fans and teams (teams have proven this by intentionally tanking to get draft picks, and good teams have proven this by resting their best players in prime-time games to keep them “fresh” for the playoffs), fans still have always at least had the playoffs to look forward to. But, that’s not even the case anymore. The ENTIRE season (INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS AND FINALS) is now already playing itself out before it is even played. There is no challenger for the Warriors. There is no Celtics to the Lakers (and vice versa) in this modern entity of this “rivalry”.

So, what would need to happen in order for a team to be competitive and for these Warriors to have any actual competition? LeBron James, as I already mentioned, would have to find A. a location (a team and ownership with the Cap Space that could accommodate) and B. recruit even MORE superstar players that could combat these Warriors. This is rather unlikely, simply because of the logistics, and the fact that LeBron (in my opinion) will remain in Cleveland for at least another season. However, other options include the same names of players that have been floating around as free agents: Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin – and whether a team that is already on the cusp (like the Celtics, or the Spurs) can acquire a player (or two) of the caliber of the ones named above to feel like they can even COMPETE with the Warriors.

The bottom line is this: the NBA is in HUGE trouble because the wonder factor is now gone; it has been proven that the Warriors are truly unstoppable, even against the defending Champions and the single best player in the league. This not a “modern day” incarnation of the Lakers vs. Celtics, this is not a rivalry, this is a problem that will only lead to more and more fans being turned off not only throughout the regular season, but even the PLAYOFFS and FINALS, now as well.