RTOE: On the Warriors, Iggy, and celebrations
By Ian Levy
As we all know, the Golden State Warriors beat the Cavs last night to win the 2015 NBA Championship. We got together to talk about the Warriors, Andre Iguodala winning MVP, and our favorite post-game celebration moments.
#10WordRecap of the Warriors’ season:
Jack (@jackhaveitall): Lead by Steph, Warriors came out to play all year
Chris (@ChrisBarnewall): I guess a jump shooting team can win a championship
Wes (@wcgoldberg): Kerr perfected small ball around Steph and won a ring
Ian Dougherty (@IanDougherty): Andre Igoudala defended LeBron James well enough all series long.
Zach (@ZachOliverNBA): Rookie coach. MVP. Three pointers flying. Dubs had it all.
How cool is it that Iggy won Finals MVP?
Jack: So incredibly cool. I’m so happy for him that he finally got a ring after all these years. I think LeBron should have gotten it, but still, giving it to Iggy is awesome.
Chris: I am a huge fan of Iguodala. He’s always been a really interesting and cool guy, and this is just a great cap off to a wonderful season.
Wes: There are guys that, as basketball bloggers, we appreciate. Guys like Iguodala who do the little things and can adapt to what his team needs him to do. The Warriors winning the Championship is vindication for their style of play. Iggy winning Finals MVP is vindication for those kinds of players.
Ian: As someone who has followed Iggy since his Philly days, I’m so happy for him. Everywhere he’s gone he’s been such a talented, smart defender; and such a well-rounded offensive guy. He’s been waiting for a stage to put his abilities on for the world, and now he’s been able to.
Zach: I’m really happy for him. From his days in Philly, I’ve always enjoyed watching him play, and it’s great to see someone who’s so humble and deserving win it. He took one for the team all season coming off the bench, and it paid off for him in the end.
What was your favorite post-game celebration moment?
Jack: Alvin Gentry telling Anthony Davis that they’ll be here next year.
Chris: A tie between Alvin Gentry saying Mike Dantoni is vindicated, “They told me I can’t play in this league” and Steph telling Trey Kerby that he loves their show.
Wes: Draymond Green yelling “they told me I can’t play in this league” and Iggy’s refershingly honest post-game interview.
Ian: Any moment that had involved Andre Igoudala. I love seeing the Finals MVP explain any feelings he’s had, or any strategy he’s committed to memory to win this title. It’s truly a pleasure to watch Finals MVP Andre Igoudala.
Zach: Probably Iggy’s heartfelt, open interview following the game. He’s been through a lot this season and it was cool to see that.
Are they going to do it again next year?
Jack: Of course they definitely can, but man, I don’t know. Running the Western Conference Gauntlet two years in a row is a lot to ask. But they should have the same team back next year so they’ll have as good a chance as anyone.
Chris: I mean, they definitely can. There’s no real reason to think they can’t if they can keep this roster together. Sure, they lose Gentry, but this is a really good team. That said, I don’t think they do cause the NBA is really weird, and absolutely everything went right for Golden State this year. Is Curry gonna be that dominant all over again?
Ian: It’s definitely possible, but I don’t know how likely it is. The Western Conference is so strong as a whole, and the East has exceptionally talented teams in the Cavs, Hawks, and Wizards. All of those teams combine to make it unlikely for Golden State to repeat, but if any team can do it, it’s the sweet-shooting Warriors.Of the other seven teams in NBA history who finished the regular season with a point differential of more than 10 points, three of them (the 95-96 Bulls, 96-97 Bulls and 91-92 Bulls) repeated with a championship the next year and one of them (the 71-72 Lakers) made the Finals the next season. The only teams that did not were the early 70s Bucks and 07-08 Celtics, who all won at least 60 games the next year. Basically, what I’m saying, is that history gives these Warriors a darned good chance.
Zach: Of course they have a shot. But, in this day and age of the league, especially in the Western Conference, it feels really hard to be able to duplicate something from season-to-season. There’s probably going to be some fall off, but, the fact that they’re going to be bringing, most likely, the whole core back, is huge. I like their chances, but, I wouldn’t count out any of the teams in the West, or a handful of teams in the East, because LeBron is still going to be playing.