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Golden State Warriors: Stop asking retired players about the Dubs

By Carlos Murillo

Nov 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. The Warriors won 124-117. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. The Warriors won 124-117. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Golden State Warriors have had the greatest three year run in NBA history, but every retired NBA player thinks they could have beaten them.

The Golden State Warriors have had the most incredible three year run in NBA history. They won 67 games and a championship in 2015. They followed it up by winning 73 games, a league record. They are now one win away from capping off their second title run in three seasons.

Stephen Curry changed the way the game of basketball is played as he won two consecutive MVP awards. Klay Thompson, his Splash Brother, became one of the greatest shooters ever. Draymond Green is already in the pantheon of the best defenders to ever step onto an NBA court. Andre Iguodala, a former All-Star, became a Finals MVP in 2015.

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The Warriors had that championship core in place when they added Kevin Durant, the 2014 NBA MVP. There is no player in NBA history like him. He’s a guard in a seven footer’s body.

The Warriors could go 16-0 in the postseason. They would be the first team to do so. It would an historic feat.

Despite their obvious greatness, it seems like every team who ever played would beat them. Magic Johnson recently came out and said that his Showtime Lakers would have swept this team. Of course, this isn’t a surprise.

Which competitor will admit that he would lose to another team? It makes sense that Johnson would say that. Which leads me to my main point: stop asking retired players if their team would have beaten the Golden State Warriors.

There’s no doubt in my mind that if you asked anyone off the last place team in 1991 (I don’t know who that it is and I have no interest in finding out) how they would have fared against Golden State, they’d say they’d win. They’d casually talk about bullying Curry, overpowering Green, and shutting down Durant. It’d probably be a sweep, too.

It’s a waste of time asking any retired player to give an honest opinion. From Johnson to Scottie Pippen to Kobe Bryant to not-Kobe-Bryant Paul Pierce, they’ll all say the same thing. They’d give some lame reasons about why they’d stop some of the best player in league history.

In the middle of writing this, I decided to check Twitter. You can add Rasheed Wallace to the list. He claimed his 2004 Detroit Pistons–who were, admittedly, a great defensive team–would have beaten the Warriors. They might have offered more resistance, but they were also 18th in the league in offense with an ORtg that would have been dead last this season, even worse than the Philadelphia 76ers.

I’ll let you in on a little secret about why the Warriors would not lose to any of those older teams (let alone get swept): basketball is better now. Right now, basketball is the best it’s ever been. The product has never been better.

The athletes are more skilled. Coaches and schemes are more complex. The game is faster and harder than ever.

Retired players can say what they want. The general NBA fan resents Golden State so anything disparaging them will be well-received (notice how no one came out and said they would beat last year’s Cleveland Cavaliers team?). It’s also easy for them to talk when they have the protection of the time-space continuum.

It’s illogical to suggest those teams were really better than anyone today. Evolution happens. Over time, things get better.

From top to bottom, rosters have more skill on them. The style of play is much better. Defensive schemes require high level offense to beat them. Offenses can space out to 30 feet, forcing defenses to scramble. Versatility is at a premium.

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So, stop asking old guys for their opinions on what Golden State is doing. They’re threatened. Point guards are threatened that Curry is creating a legacy greater than theirs. They don’t understand how forces like Green and Durant even exist.

The Warriors will always be too small or too soft. Or too reliant on the three-point shot. Or something else. They’ll be too this or too that.

Just stop asking them and appreciate the greatness we are witnessing. It makes everyone’s life much easier. And it saves these greats (and the self-proclaimed greats) some embarrassing moments as they try to hold on to whatever they can.

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