The Golden State Warrior’s reign of dominance began not too long after Mark Jackson challenged the world to call his bluff. After making it to two straight NBA finals, the Warriors proceeded to improve their championship team by adding the second best player in the NBA, Kevin Durant, to their roster. Last year, we all knew the season was a wrap before it even began. This year, teams like the Rockets, Raptors, Celtics, and Cavaliers have given NBA fans new hope. However, I’m going to dive right into the question of, “Who is the best team in the NBA, and why?”
Without looking at stats, advanced stats, or standings, it’s clear as day to me that the Golden State Warriors are still the best team in the NBA; and it’s not even close. When you consider the youth of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s easy to figure out how a stacked Warriors team can achieve victory over these teams. As for the Raptors, they’ve yet to prove that they can get past LeBron James.
That leaves us with the Houston Rockets.
Defensively:
Mike D’Antoni critics have been impressed with the Rockets, who have been playing defense for the most part this season. Their defensive efforts are credited to the additions of Luc Mbah a Moute, P.J. Tucker, and Chris Paul. While I can’t deny that these three players are tough on defense, especially the first two, there is one issue:
The Golden State Warriors’ best offensive players, are the ones playing the best defense as well. Klay Thompson might be the best on ball point guard defender in the League. Draymond Green? Defensive Player Of The Year, enough said. Kevin Durant has been the “rim” protector that NBA fans thought the Warriors needed. As for Steph Curry, he buys into the “team defense” concept more than any other superstar player in the League. Unlike the Warriors, they do not need to sacrifice any offensive talent to lock on defense. James Harden has yet to prove that he can do both, at an elite level.
Shooting:
I’ll sum this one up pretty quickly, 3 point contest, pick one team:
Team A. James Harden, Chris Paul, and Eric Gordon
Team B. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant
Pretty self explanatory. Especially when you have a perfected offense, with continuity, ran by Draymond Green and the best point guard in the NBA, Steph Curry.
Offensively:
It helps when your entire team buys into the offense, and is capable of running it. Whether it’s Steph, Klay, Kevin, or even Draymond Green, the Warriors offense is impossible to shut down. Ryan Anderson is not the capable facilitator that Green is. Although the Warriors have numerous shooters across the board, what scares most teams is how selfless they are. They average many assists, and all sacrifice for a greater cause.
The impact that Joe Johnson will have on this team has yet to be seen. However, James Macey did shed some insight on the topic in this article.
Leadership:
The best team in the NBA is also lead by the best point guard in the NBA, with three top 5 players at their position by his side. What separates Curry from the group of elite point guards is how he impacts the game at both sides of the floor. He is the best left handed passer I’ve seen since Steve Nash. He is the greatest shooter of all time, off the dribble from distance. He’s been in a team with continuity, which happens to run a complex Mike D’Antoni offense, mixed with some classic Gregg Popovich and triangle, to perfection by the way. Second best handles in the NBA. Can score from anywhere and finish among the best of them. In addition to all that, Steph has the mindset of a killer. While his first two finals were not his best display, he showed us a better version of himself last year, taking it right to LeBron James in an isolation situation. If all that wasn’t enough, he also has the proven record that Chris Paul has never had in the playoffs.
Depth:
This is the one point that NBA fans try to throw around. I don’t know if anyone has any more depth than the Toronto Raptors. I have bad news for y’all. Depth is great for the regular season. Depth is almost irrelevant in the playoffs when you’re going up against a team with four all-stars, and two all-star level talented players who have reduced themselves to a bench role just to win championships. Good luck beating Kevin Durant with Gerald Green.
In conclusion, unless the Warriors suffer a significant injury to one of their top 6 guys, I don’t see how any team can upset them in the playoffs. They’re tougher, smarter, more conditioned, and sacrifice more than the average team. If Kawhi is healthy, I wonder if your “best team” in Houston, can even make it to the conference finals to face the Warriors. Our last hope remains LeBron James in Cleveland.
I just don’t see how you can beat a team with four all-stars, which includes two potential top 5 players at their position, of all time.
Care to argue? Tweet me @tprx11