At this point, everyone except Golden State hates Golden State – and with the addition of dominant center DeMarcus Cousins, the Dubs are looking more dominant than ever. They have five All-Stars. Five. On paper, there has never been a better squad assembled.
But fear not, NBA fans. There’s still hope of an upset in the near future. The Warriors could fall short of reaching their fourth ring in five years in a few scenarios.
Here’s how the Warriors lose next year:
1) The Celtics Pull Off A Boston Miracle
Boston is the NBA’s best shot at taking down Golden State. They have one weapon the Warriors haven’t dealt with in the Finals before – a superior coach. In 2018, Brad Stevens showcased his genius countless times. During the offseason prior to the 2017-18 season, Stevens developed a schematic revolving around Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford. That plan lasted a total of six minutes.
Forced to rely on role players and young talent, Stevens successfully won 50 games, beat the Warriors, Rockets, and Thunder, and took the second seed in the East. He also managed to beat the Sixers in five games and take LeBron to seven in the conference finals. If Stevens can have that success with half his team injured, imagine what Boston is capable of at full strength. Look out, Golden State.
2) DeMarcus Cousins Destroys The Warriors Chemistry
DeMarcus Cousins is famous for two things: technical fouls and bad chemistry. In Sacremento, Cousins publicly feuded with teammates and the coaching staff, forcing the Kings to trade him. In New Orleans, Anthony Davis decided he liked the team better without Boogie. The Pelicans let him walk, and now he’s heading to Golden State.
The most remarkable thing about the Warriors is their unselfish attitude. For years their selfless play has allowed multiple All-Stars to come together and play team basketball. DeMarcus Cousins is the exact opposite of that. He’s selfish, pushy, and a toxic teammate. If Cousins is able to shake up the Warrior’s chemistry, teams like the Rockets, Lakers, or Celtics could swoop in and take advantage.
3) Oklahoma City Finally Gets It Right
The Thunder have all the parts they need. Now, it’s about building the machine. By re-signing Paul George and trading for Dennis Schroder, the Thunder have made a powerful statement. They’re here to win and win now. Now that Melo is out of the picture, OKC can focus on developing a winning offensive system. If Paul George, Steve Adams, and Russell Westbrook can get on the same page, the Thunder pose a serious threat in the West.
We’ve already seen that the Warriors are vulnerable. The Rockets took them to seven games while Chris Paul fought an injury. A well-coached, healthy team like the Celtics or Thunder could finally de-throne the Warriors. It’s time to end this dynasty.
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