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The force is strong in the post: The NBA equivalent for every Star Wars film

By Aaron Hertzog

British actors Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, American Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi directed by Welsh Richard Marquand. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
British actors Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, American Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi directed by Welsh Richard Marquand. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: An original Darth Vader costume from the Star Wars films on display in Christie’s auction house on October 27, 2010 in London, England. The rare collectors piece is expected to realise between GBP160,000 and GBP230,000. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: An original Darth Vader costume from the Star Wars films on display in Christie’s auction house on October 27, 2010 in London, England. The rare collectors piece is expected to realise between GBP160,000 and GBP230,000. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images) /

Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back is the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors

Darth Vader is introduced as an all-powerful villain. He bursts into frame clad head-to-toe in black and from the moment we first set eyes on him we know he’s not to be messed with. He wields a seemingly unnatural, ancient power not even his allies fully understand. He is respected by those under his ranks, and feared by all across the galaxy. He is instantly an iconic movie bad guy.

But he started out as a Jedi.

The destruction of the Death Star was a humbling blow to the Empire. The weapon was the ultimate symbol of their stranglehold on the galaxy and their dominant power over the puny fools who would dare to rebel against them.

But they would not let that loss conquer them for good.

The Sith Lord formerly known as Anakin Skywalker is on a mission throughout Empire. He is out for revenge against the so-called rebel scum who destroyed the Death Star in humiliating fashion by finding a tiny flaw in their blueprints and firing two proton torpedoes into a thermal exhaust port. He’s also on a personal mission, to unite with Luke so they can “rule the galaxy as father and son.”

At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, the bad guys certainly have the upper hand. As the character Dante Hicks famously puts it in the movie Clerks:

"Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader’s his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that’s what life is, a series of down endings."

Extreme pessimism aside, that sure does neatly sum up the revenge victory smack-down laid by Vader and the Empire in Episode V.

The Golden State Warriors, just like Anakin Skywalker, began their run as fresh-faced good guys. Comprised of a mostly home-grown roster of smart draft picks, savvy trades, and timely veteran signings the team was built for success the so-called “right way.”

But as dynasties grow and teams continue to test the limits of their power it becomes easy to be tempted by the Dark Side. Especially after experiencing a humiliating loss of Death Star blow-up proportions.

The Warriors famously blew a 3-1 series lead to the Cavaliers and lost the 2016 NBA Finals after Cleveland exploited a Draymond Green’s temper-sized hole in the W’s seemingly unbeatable front. The loss paved the way for them to add superstar Kevin Durant to their already stacked roster and leave a scorched earth behind them on the way to the 2016-17 title.

The Warriors have set themselves up to be the villains of the NBA through sheer success. Lots and lots of success. And with their core intact for the foreseeable future, the rest of the league has got their hands full for a time to come.

A small, wise leader might say “Stopped they must be. On this all depends.”

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