Golden State Warriors: NWO of Basketball

Kevin Durant made this Fourth of July one to remember for quite some time. He sparked fireworks all across the Sports world and news in general when he made his decision to join the Golden State Warriors. Kevin's move caused a widespread mix of emotions and reviews. On one end, you had fans that were irate and furious about his decision to join the Warriors. So much so to the point that they started to burn his jerseys and shoot them. On the other hand, there were fans that were fine with his decision to leave, even if it was to join the team that just beat his team in the Western Conference Finals. It is the "If you can't beat them, join them" approach and mindset. Then, you had those fans that were just glad that he left Oklahoma City, but did not like the team that he joined. It was reminiscent of LeBron James and "The Decision" when he left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. I am glad that KD left OKC, but I am in the middle of "why did he join the Warriors?" and "I understand because it is all about business".

I have seen this before with LBJ and I have come to realize that this is the climate that we live in with the NBA. Whether you like it or not, that is the way things roll. The circumstances seem very similar. Both players left teams that they help to build from the ground up. The only differences are:

• LeBron TELEVISED his "Decision" while Kevin did not. 
• The Warriors came off of back to back Finals Appearances and an historic 73 win Season.

Other than that, the concept is still the same. Although Miami was not in the same position that Golden State is in now, they still had the championship resume from Wade's Finals win in 2006. They were in more of a building process than the Warriors are today. Still, LeBron opened the floodgates for the Super teams where star players flock together for the sake of winning rings. 

I say all of that to say that these Super team situations with LeBron James in 2010 and Kevin Durant this year remind me of when wrestling icon Hulk Hogan joined Kevin Nash and Scott Hall to form the "New World Order" better known as the "NWO" in 1996. For years, Hogan was the beloved hero that inspired fans to "Train, Eat their Vitamins, and Say their Prayers". Soon, times changed and he was forced to change his scenery. On July 7, 1996, Hogan shocked the world by becoming a villain and turning on fans all over the world by forming the NWO with two men that were stars in their own right. Hogan was the face of the group and added greater value to the formation of the group. He repackaged his image and became "Hollywood" Hogan. This is what I call the "NWO Factor". Soon after, Hogan was villified, but he still had success. 

In 2010, LeBron James was the first player to use the "NWO Factor" when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in a way that made him the ultimate villain of Basketball. For 7 years, LeBron James was the "Babyface" to use wrestling terms. He was the Hero of the the NBA. When he announced his "Decision" on live TV and joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, he turned "Heel" or became the Bad Guy or Villain. Wade was Scott Hall and Bosh was Kevin Nash. When that happened, I immediately thought about Hogan joining the NWO. From that point, the Miami Heat became the "NWO of Basketball". Fans burned LeBron's jersey in Cleveland, just like they have done with Kevin Durant today. 

History has repeat itself. On July 4th, Kevin Durant became the Hollywood Hogan of Basketball and joined Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to form the NWO in Golden State. KD is another victim of the "NWO Factor". When Durant left Oklahoma City and longtime teammate Russell Westbrook, it reminded me of when Hogan gave "Macho Man" Randy Savage the Leg Drop to signify his change of allegiance. LeBron leg dropped Cleveland six years ago. 

Plain and simple, the Golden State Warriors have become the "NWO of Basketball". 

Social Media has made the same comparison. In the words of my friend Mike Pearman aka "Mike Knoxxx" "Wrestling Is Storyline". I would also like to say that "Basketball Is Storyline" because the NBA is also Storyline driven. Much like Hogan and LeBron, Kevin Durant has become Public Enemy number 1. 

Rise of the Splash Bros. & Hawks

This NBA Season has become an Open for anyone to grab the top spot. In the wake of LeBron James returning to Cleveland, the Miami Heat is no longer the formidable threat that monopolized the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have been rejuvenated as favorites with the return of LBJ, along with All-Star PG Kyrie Irving and former Timberwolves Star Kevin Love as the third wheel. However, the transition has not been the smoothest for either of them. By LeBron's standards, he has seemed to be fairly quiet this season even though he will always be the number one option in the house that he built. Kyrie has had a tough time giving up the load that he has carried after LeBron made his exodus to South Beach. Love has had to give up being a top option, which is what he was on a sub-par team like Minnesota. The Washington Wizards acquired future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce. The Wizards have gone from a team that was on fire at the start, to a team that is crawling to make it into the postseason. In Chicago, Jimmy Butler has emerged as an All-Star player in the absence of Derrick Rose. Surprisingly, the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as the Top Threat in the East. The Hawks have modeled their game after the San Antonio Spurs. Therefore, they are considered to be the Spurs of the East. That is the best blueprint for success. Just ask Greg Popovich and Tim Duncan. Atlanta has not had this kind of exposure since the days of the Dominique Wilkins Administration back in the 80's. Then again, they also had solid success in the Mutombo Era, but never anything spectacular. Even in the Dominique Era, the Hawks were the whipping boys of Bird's Celtics, Zeke's Bad Boys, and Jordan's Bulls. The Hawks are actually favorites over the former Southeast Juggernaut the Miami Heat. Yes, that is right. The same Miami team that made the Finals four years in a row, with the Three Headed Monster of LeBron, Wade and Bosh. With Chris Bosh sidelined for the rest of the season with blood clot issues, Miami still manages to make the second half of the top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the Heat would pose as a nice challenge for ATL in the Playoffs. For now, the Hawks are flying high above the rest of the pack.

There has also been a Power Shift in the Western Conference. With reigning MVP Kevin Durant sidelined for the season with a foot injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been fighting for their lives for a playoff spot. Durant has been crowned as the heir to LeBron's throne as far as the Top Player of his Era, and this has changed the landscape of the NBA in a major way. Meanwhile, his sidekick Russell Westbrook has gone from being Robin to playing more like Nightwing as he has recorded a string of games with Triple Doubles. Russell is deep on the hunt for the MVP Award with the Centerpiece of the Franchise on the sidelines as a result of foot surgery. I applaud Russell for carrying the weight, but it is not the same. There have been people who have gone on record to say that Durant should be traded. Really?! That is insane. People that say that are stuck with Prisoner of the Moment Syndrome. Why would Oklahoma City trade their league MVP, just because he is out for an injury? Injuries happen all of the time, it is part of the game. KD is the REIGNING MVP, yet people want to view him as a has been. With the right rehabilitation, Durant can come back in even stronger fashion. However, there are fans here in Washington, DC that have been campaigning for Kevin to return home when his contract expires in 2016. During the Wizards vs. Thunder game at the Verizon Center, fans had signs that said "KD for DC 2016". With Durant's injury, the Thunder have given up the reigns as the biggest threat to San Antonio. The Dallas Mavericks acquired All-Star PG Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics through a trade. Dallas continues to remain in contenders, although the Mavericks have had some struggles with adjustments in the beginning. James Harden is the league leader in scoring as he carries an injury ridden Houston Rockets team (27.6 PPG). The Second and Third Wheels to Kevin Durant have risen to become two of the top three MVP Candidates this season.

Through it all, the Golden State Warriors have become the most formidable team in the Western Conference this year. Durant's injury has opened up the floor for not only Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but Stephen Curry as well. Curry has become a Super Nova this season, as he has set the record for the Most Three Pointers Made in a Single Season. Curry shoots fireballs like he was Super Mario. Teammate Klay Thompson has become his Luigi, as they have been labeled as the "Splash Bros", a tribute to Super Smash Bros. The Warriors are the toast of the West, as Curry and Thompson have been assassins from Downtown. Stephen has become the Three Point Champion as well. Curry is the leader of the best team in the West, as he leads the Warriors to an NBA-best 63-wins. In a Conference with the likes of the Spurs, the Clippers, and Blazers to name a few, that is very impressive for a predominantly outside shooting team. Granted, this is not the Wild West of Yesteryear, but this is still acceptable by today's standards. Harden may be the scoring champion, and Westbrook may be a Triple Double Machine. However, Curry has the best case in my eyes. He is the best leader and decision maker of the three. He carries himself with great poise, with a strong IQ. Westbrook may be a better defender, but Curry is a better leader for his team as it shows. Steph is not the kind of player that you can clearly point out cases where he has cost his teams the game. His efficiency speaks for itself. Stephen Curry is very precise and polished. He is rewriting the record books, and redefining three-point shooting for his generation. You can find more consistency in Curry than Harden and Westbrook. No offense to them at all. Curry makes Run-TMC very proud. David Lee makes a great third man, which has also called them "Dub TLC" (Thompson, Lee, Curry). Veteran Andre Iguodala has been very valuable providing his experience to this great team. Momentum is highly in Curry's favor, as with other MVP's in History. You can often just feel whenever a player is going to win MVP. This season, Stephen Curry is that guy for me. Golden State has never been this dominant over the rest of the NBA. During the Wilt Era, they were mostly in the East fighting with the Celtics. With Rick Barry, the Warriors were a step behind the Lakers or Bucks. When Golden State won the NBA Finals in 1975, they were the underdog!! Eighth Place in the West. The rest is history. In the 80's, they were just a notch on the Lakers belt. During the 90's, they took the backseat to Houston, San Antonio, Utah, etc. Today, Golden State has gone to the top of the class. The Playoffs are a different story. For now, the Warriors have made themselves known. The Splash Bros are looking forward to delivering their own Melee in the Playoffs.

NBA Playoff Predictions (2nd Round)

East:
Heat over Bulls (4-3)
Pacers over Knicks (4-2)

West:
Thunder over Grizzlies (4-3)
Spurs over Warriors (4-2)


East:

Heat vs. Bulls:
In Game 1, I was very impressed by Chicago. On the night where three of their best players were out (Rose, Deng, Hinrich), the Bulls regrouped around players such as Nate Robinson, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and others in spite of their injury problems. Meanwhile, Miami was fully healthy with their franchise star, MVP LeBron James. However, Chicago came off of a tough 7-game series with the Brooklyn Nets, while the Heat were rusty coming off of an 8-day layoff. What made the layoff rust even worse was the fact that LeBron was openly awarded the MVP trophy the night of the game in Miami. In the first half, LeBron played nothing like an MVP. The first half overall was grueling and low scoring, where both teams were tied at 37 by halftime. Side note: Maybe it was the shoes. Just kidding. The Bulls have constantly had the Heat's number this season. Chicago was the team that ended Miami's 27-game winning streak. (2nd longest in NBA History) Whenever the Bulls play the Heat, they always bring their A game, especially Nate Robinson. Game 1 was no different. Chicago pushed the ball up the court, and knocked down their shots. They knew how to frustrate Miami. Nate Robinson led the way with 27 points, 9 assists. Jimmy Butler stepped up with 21 points, 14 rebounds. Joakim Noah made an impact as well, with 13 points, and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, LeBron led the way for the Heat as he finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Dwyane Wade had 14 points. Everyone else on the Heat were involved, but not enough to get them over. Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen went cold. In the end, this will be an intriguing matchup.

Pacers vs. Knicks:
These first two games have been up and down. In Game 1, the Pacers blew the Knicks away in Madison Square Garden. In Game 2, the Knicks returned the favor. However, I see Indiana having the advantage because of their physicality, just like it was with the Hawks, and even with the Heat last year. If the Pacers perimeter defense can neutralize Carmelo and JR Smith, this will turn even more in their favor. Overall, the Pacers physical play and big man Roy Hibbert will be the deciding factor.

West:

Thunder vs. Grizzlies:
With fellow star Russell Westbrook out for the rest of the playoffs, Kevin Durant was able to take what little he had and multiply it for victory over Houston in the 1st Round. In Game 1, the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies at home, with Kevin Durant once again leading the troops. (35 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 9/10 from the free throw line) Kevin Martin stepped up to the plate with 25 points, with Reggie Jackson bringing in 12 points. However, the Grizzlies made it even with Mike Conley leading Memphis with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Marc Gasol scored 24 points, while Zach Randolph brought in 15 points. Kevin Durant dropped 36 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists 11/12 from the foul line. However, he missed 2 crucial shots, and the rest of the Thunder fell short. Gasol and Randolph are two of the best big men today. If they carry their weight like they did against the Clippers, they could have a chance. However, Oklahoma City is still a greater threat than what the Clippers were. I see the Thunder pulling this out.

Spurs vs. Warriors:
Monday Night's opener was incredible. Stephen Curry has really been raising his game, and those around him. Curry was lights out again in Game 1, where he lit up the Spurs defense with 44 points and 11 assists. San Antonio had their back on the ropes by the first half. However, the Spurs had the right answer. This was a Point Guard battle. Tony Parker led the way with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Danny Green dropped 22 points. Tim Duncan had a solid game with 19 points, and 11 rebounds. Rising star Kawhi Leonard gave 18 points, and 9 rebounds. Manu Ginobili also added 16 points, and 11 assists. San Antonio's experience, and chemistry will neutralize the youth and firepower of Golden State.

NBA Playoff Predictions (1st Round)

East:
Heat over Bucks (4-0)
Celtics over Knicks (4-2)
Bulls over Nets (4-2)
Pacers over Hawks (4-1)

West:
Thunder over Rockets (4-0)
Spurs over Lakers (4-0)
Clippers over Grizzlies (4-3)
Nuggets over Warriors (4-2)


East:

Heat vs. Bucks:
Miami will skate through the first round through Milwaukee. The Bucks stops with the Heat.

Celtics vs. Knicks:
Even though Carmelo won the scoring title, I believe that Boston's defense will neutrailize New York's ballstopping. The Knicks live by outside shooting, and during the playoffs, teams that live by that more often than not will die by that. Even with Rondo out, Boston will find a way to rally and regroup.

Bulls vs. Nets:
Tough series for me to call, but I see Chicago finding a way to regroup after that humiliating loss in Game 1. Even with their franchise player (Derrick Rose) out for such a long time, the Bulls have proven that they can be a down and dirty team that will fight even harder with their back against the wall. Noah has been battling injuries, while Deng, Hinrich and Gibson fell flat in Game 1. Boozer led with 25, while Nate Robinson came off the bench with 17, along with Marco Belinelli had 13. The Starters have to raise their game to give Chicago a stronger chance. Meanwhile, the Nets had six players in double-figures: Deron Williams (22), Brook Lopez (21), Joe Johnson (16), Gerald Wallace (14), Former Bull C.J. Watson (14), and Andre Blatche (12). If Chicago's nucleus can pull their own weight, this will be the blue-collar matchup that will be right in their favor.

Pacers vs. Hawks:
Indiana's nucleus of Danny Granger, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, David West, George Hill, and Tyler Hansborough will be too much for the Hawks to handle. The Pacers have been a more proven playoff team for the past two years. In 2011, they were a tougher matchup for the Bulls than the Hawks were. In 2012, they put Miami against the wall in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pacers are too physical for the Hawks to overcome.

West:

Thunder vs. Rockets:
This will be a very interesting matchup, with former Sixth Man James Harden facing his former team as a star for the Houston Rockets. This storyline will be the focus of the series. In the season opener, Harden made his own statement versus the Thunder, with a career-high 46 points in Houston's only win against Oklahoma City during the season. The Duo of Harden and Jeremy Lin have led the Rockets to the 8th Seed in the West. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City will zero in on James Harden, after Harden hit a wall in the Finals against the Heat, costing them the series. James Harden has averaged 25.9 ppg in his first season as a starter. Meanwhile, the Thunder have not missed a beat with new addition Kevin Martin (the very player they traded Harden for). Kevin Durant led the team in Scoring (28.1 ppg- 2nd in NBA), with Russell Westbrook finishing 2nd on the team in Scoring (23.2 ppg). Kevin Martin sacrificed his scoring, with 14.0 ppg, while Serge Ibaka put in 13.2 ppg. The games themselves will be pretty tough, but Oklahoma

Spurs vs. Lakers:
Both teams have been battling health issues. Clearly, the Lakers lost their franchise player for the next 6-9 months. However, San Antonio has proven to be a more effective and devastating team, when both are healthy. The Lakers have greatly underperformed all season long, with the team that they have assembled. (Kobe, Dwight, Nash, Pau Gasol, Artest) San Antonio's chemistry and Basketball IQ will exploit that massive weakness. However, I see the Lakers pulling out at least 1, as they will find a way to move the ball around more without Kobe. The Spurs will pick them apart with their superior ball movement, defense, and other strategies.

Clippers vs. Grizzlies:
I see this series being more of the same from last year's series. In Game 1, the Clippers had their way with Memphis (112-91), with Chris Paul leading the way with 23 points, Eric Bledsoe with 15, Chauncey Billups with 14, Caron Butler and Jamal Crawford both with 13, and Blake Griffin and Matt Barnes both with 10. Memphis has the advantage inside (Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol), but the Clippers perimeter will find a way to neutralize them.

Nuggets vs. Warriors:
This will be a battle of two great small ball teams. Led by 3-point marksman Stephen Curry along with the likes of David Lee, Klay Thompson and co. Golden State will be a very intriguing matchup for Denver. However, the Nuggets have a  more well-rounded team in my view. Denver has a very dangerous combination of guards (Ty Lawson, Andre Miller) star wingman (Andre Iguodala), along with an interior presence (Javale McGee). The Nuggets can not only run the table on fastbreaks, but can dominate inside as well. As I have said about the Knicks, teams that live too much by the three will die by it in the playoffs. I see this happening with the Nuggets using their size to take great advantage as well.