Golden State Warriors: 5 reasons why the Warriors losing is good

Jun 9, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) reacts during the fourth quarter in game four of the Finals for the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) reacts during the fourth quarter in game four of the Finals for the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

It improves their legacy if they win

The Golden State Warriors treated the first two games of the NBA Finals like an open practice. They were running and getting everything they wanted in transition. In Game 1, it was Kevin Durant dunks. In Game 2, it was three-pointers from everyone in a white uniform.

In Game 3, the Warriors flexed their muscle late in the fourth quarter. Cleveland, after playing an incredible game, just couldn’t put Golden State away. The Warriors’ talent was too much for them as Kevin Durant closed it out.

While the Warriors were receiving some credit, the Cavaliers were getting ridiculed from TV talking heads and Twitter experts. LeBron James’ team were being destroyed for failing to be a worthy adversary for the super team. It was being suggested that they didn’t even belong on the same court as the Warriors.

A team with three All-Stars turned into a lottery team on social media. The highest payroll in the league did not have any role players that could make anything happen. The defending champs weren’t that good.

By winning a game, the Cavaliers reminded everyone that they are actually pretty good at basketball. It turns out that LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love can hoop a little bit. They have a team that really is championship-level.

It seems silly, but losing makes the Warriors’ accomplishments seem more impressive. The narrative isn’t that they beat up a bad team that didn’t deserve to be four wins away from a championship. It is now that the Warriors made a really good team look foolish.

Next: Top 25 Warriors of All-Time

Teams are measured against each other partly due to the opponents they face. The fact that the Cavaliers proved they are good enough to blow the Warriors out once puts Golden State’s earlier dominance in perspective.

The Cavs are good. The Warriors are much better. If they can close it out, then more people should realize how great they are that they made dispatching the King and his court look easy. The gentleman’s sweep will do.