Golden State Warriors: 3 NBA Playoff lessons from Round One
By Tony Pesta
Golden State Warriors: Anyone can be beaten
Through the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, only one team advanced in a clean sweep. The Milwaukee Bucks breezed through four games against the Miami Heat, but they are an exception to this new rule. The NBA is wide-open, and anyone can be beaten.
As I said, it’s a new era. Currently, there are no dominant super teams that look unstoppable. Sure, the Brooklyn Nets are a threatening idea on paper and could even elevate to invincible status by the end of next season. However, with a lack of bench depth and limited time to build chemistry, even the Nets dropped a game to the Boston Celtics in round one.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves stumped in six games against the Phoenix Suns. The LA Clippers have been pushed to the absolute limit against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks while rising stars in Denver and Utah are rolling into the next round.
WIth parity taking the league by storm, the Warriors must understand that the crown is there for the taking. They are only a few moves from jamming themselves into title conversations — and one big move from becoming clear favorites.