Steph Curry finds it funny Warriors aren't le favorites, Draymond mentions Spurs

[TD 21]

Before the season started, I knew the Warriors would be trouble. They were young and they almost beat a better Spurs team in 2012. Their lack of experience is what prevented them from finishing a wounded Spurs. But with Bogut geting older, Lee prime to move, Iggy one year further from prime, etc. I felt like it was really gonna be their last best shot. I even kinda could see that fast start coming and the increase in three efficiency. But what I didn't foresee is getting a pass on the Spurs, Clippers, Thunders, a viable East team. The Warriors themselves have to know that it's gonna be incredibly more difficult to repeat. They're not truly a dominant team. They beat a league of teams that weren't suited for their fast regular season pace and barrage of threes. But teams will play them tougher and make them work that much harder night in and night out. They'll lose more games. They'll go into the postseason more worn down against more healthy teams; and they'll find that their lack of inside game is a liability when teams clamp down on the three looks.

Trouble and beating the Spurs in a series are two different things. They almost had them down 0-2, but after that the Spurs controlled the next four games. It's funny, that along with the fact that the Spurs have owned them since, is always ignored, yet the Thunder "figuring the Spurs out" never was.

No, last season doesn't necessarily foretell the upcoming season...but what logical reasons do you have for why GS won't be as good?

Last year they won 67 games and had one of the best point differentials of all-time. They brought back the same team minus David Lee and essentially replaced him with Jason Thompson. Their entire core is young and likely to improve. They'll have another year of experience + chemistry together. Kerr will no longer be a rookie coach and will have another year under his belt.

People here love bringing up all their luck in the playoffs, but you can only beat who's in front of you. They looked like one of the most dominant teams ever in the regular season, and then breezed through the playoffs as well. Sure, they went down early against Memphis/Cleveland, but then they went on to win 3 straight games in convincing fashion against both. They won games 4-6 against Memphis by a margin of 50 points, and won games 4-6 against Cleveland by a margin of 42 points.

I'm not saying it's some ridiculous opinion to not have them as favorites...but they're the safest pick aside from Cleveland, and that's just because of the conference disparity. And people here are really underselling what they did last season just because they played some injured teams in the playoffs.

The most logical reason of all, is that they enjoyed virtually unprecedented luck. On top of that, the top of the West is better.

I'm not suggesting they should apologize for their luck, I'm just saying, it shouldn't be ignored or swept under the rug because it's popular opinion to anoint them as an all time great team. And it wasn't just "some injured teams" in the playoffs. Of their opponents: Holiday, Evans, Conley, Allen, Beverley, Motiejunas, Irving, Love, Varejao, were all either banged up or not playing altogether and considering the latter's injuries, they never had to face a fellow top five team in the playoffs. The fact that the skeleton Cavs were essentially a game away from mentally finishing them off showed how fraudulent they were.

Safest pick is one thing, but it's another to pretend that they should be put on a pedestal above teams like the Spurs, Cavs and Thunder.

[bic50]

Now they know how spurs feel.

[skulls138]

Anybody coming out of the east was going to be beaten by anybody coming out of the west. Just because the skeleton Cavs made a series out of it doesn't explain the lack of talent on the Warriors. The Cavs were playing with more emotion because of the unfairness of all the injuries. So I don't consider beating the Cavs as luck. The Griz are a different story, however the Griz should've been deeper.

[BatManu20]

Well, until some team takes them out, they are the favorites.

[therealtruth]

I don't understand Cavs being favorites. I don't think anyone in the East will win for a while.

[ceperez]

Warriors are just using this "disrespect" for the champs as motivation next season.

Of course, Warriors are without a doubt the most "disrespected" champion in a long while. A lot of people are of the opinion that they won agains hobbled teams.

[skulls138]

Warriors are just using this "disrespect" for the champs as motivation next season.

Of course, Warriors are without a doubt the most "disrespected" champion in a long while. A lot of people are of the opinion that they won agains hobbled teams.

Ain't it funny how the real most disrespected champions never cry about it, even after winning five.

[-21-]

I don't understand Cavs being favorites. I don't think anyone in the East will win for a while.

No compe ion in the East makes the Cavs a lock for the Finals, which gives them slightly better odds than anyone in the West.

[GSH]

Curry is still young, and doesn't understand that he's good enough to ignore that pandering sports writers say. His coach needs to remind him. He'll get a chance to prove if they should be the favorites or not. The rest is just a distraction.

[Tbiggums47]

Before the season started, I knew the Warriors would be trouble. They were young and they almost beat a better Spurs team in 2012. Their lack of experience is what prevented them from finishing a wounded Spurs. But with Bogut geting older, Lee prime to move, Iggy one year further from prime, etc. I felt like it was really gonna be their last best shot. I even kinda could see that fast start coming and the increase in three efficiency. But what I didn't foresee is getting a pass on the Spurs, Clippers, Thunders, a viable East team. The Warriors themselves have to know that it's gonna be incredibly more difficult to repeat. They're not truly a dominant team. They beat a league of teams that weren't suited for their fast regular season pace and barrage of threes. But teams will play them tougher and make them work that much harder night in and night out. They'll lose more games. They'll go into the postseason more worn down against more healthy teams; and they'll find that their lack of inside game is a liability when teams clamp down on the three looks.

Nice insight! I agree completely.... I felt they were never tested throughout their run. That is really the question surrounding their le run. The weakness for their argument as being a favorite to repeat. I can't see it. IJS

[LoneStarState'sPride]

D. Green seems concerned about another D. Gr33n's squad, tbh.

[AFBlue]

If the shoe was on the other foot there would be plenty of Spurs fans feeling "disrespected", and some players may use it as internal motivation. I don't see what the big deal is with the comments tbqh.

[soxxx]

They are delusional, a healthy Cavs team or Thunder team beats them last season. They were one of the luckiest teams I have seen in regards to not playing teams at 100%.

[ceperez]

Trouble and beating the Spurs in a series are two different things. They almost had them down 0-2, but after that the Spurs controlled the next four games. It's funny, that along with the fact that the Spurs have owned them since, is always ignored, yet the Thunder "figuring the Spurs out" never was.




The most logical reason of all, is that they enjoyed virtually unprecedented luck. On top of that, the top of the West is better.

I'm not suggesting they should apologize for their luck, I'm just saying, it shouldn't be ignored or swept under the rug because it's popular opinion to anoint them as an all time great team. And it wasn't just "some injured teams" in the playoffs. Of their opponents: Holiday, Evans, Conley, Allen, Beverley, Motiejunas, Irving, Love, Varejao, were all either banged up or not playing altogether and considering the latter's injuries, they never had to face a fellow top five team in the playoffs. The fact that the skeleton Cavs were essentially a game away from mentally finishing them off showed how fraudulent they were.

Safest pick is one thing, but it's another to pretend that they should be put on a pedestal above teams like the Spurs, Cavs and Thunder.

For the most recent championship, the Warriors had a walk in the park against an injured plagued Cavaliers team.

2014 Spurs beat a strong Miami team
2013 Miami survived the Spurs
2012 Miami played a strong Thunder team that included Harden
2011 Miami loses against Mavs, at team that got good at the right time
2010 Lakers survive a 7 game series against Boston
2009 Lakers beat a weak Magic team <------------------------
2008 Boston beat LA
2007 Spurs sweep Cavs <--------------------------------------
2006 Heat beat Mavs

So, to be honest the last time an eventual champion met a pushover was either in 2009 or 2007.

[100%duncan]

No compe ion in the East makes the Cavs a lock for the Finals, which gives them slightly better odds than anyone in the West.

Disagree though, they are a lock for the finals but they will never win against a West team. (Warriors, Spurs, Clippers, even Rockets and OKC)

[ceperez]

Disagree though, they are a lock for the finals but they will never win against a West team. (Warriors, Spurs, Clippers, even Rockets and OKC)

That's not how the bookies run the numbers. Let me give you the math. If Cavs are 100% to make it to the finals and 45% chance to win, then their odds are 45%. If Spurs have 70% chance to make it to finals and 55% chance to win, then the odds are 38%.

So the poster is spot on, the odds of anyone in the west winning the finals will be lower than the Cavs. It is not about which team is better, it is about odds or more technically probability.

[Cklbmk]

Yes. Steve Kerr is smart. He started the whole "spurs are the favorites" when he was interviewed at summer league in Vegas. By saying that, it puts less pressure on the Warriors to repeat, and gives them the underdog tag. But in reality, they are the favorites according to many nba analysts and vegas oddsmakers. They're young, they have the reigning MVP Curry, another splash brother in Thompson and most importantly they have the experience as a group to win it all again.

If by many you mean 0.

Cavs are favorites for every odds maker simply due to the path

[100%duncan]

That's not how the bookies run the numbers. Let me give you the math. If Cavs are 100% to make it to the finals and 45% chance to win, then their odds are 45%. If Spurs have 70% chance to make it to finals and 55% chance to win, then the odds are 38%.

So the poster is spot on, the odds of anyone in the west winning the finals will be lower than the Cavs. It is not about which team is better, it is about odds or more technically probability.

I know that but numbers are just numbers, when it comes down to team vs team Cavs wont beat any team that comes out of the west.

[TD 21]

For the most recent championship, the Warriors had a walk in the park against an injured plagued Cavaliers team.

2014 Spurs beat a strong Miami team
2013 Miami survived the Spurs
2012 Miami played a strong Thunder team that included Harden
2011 Miami loses against Mavs, at team that got good at the right time
2010 Lakers survive a 7 game series against Boston
2009 Lakers beat a weak Magic team <------------------------
2008 Boston beat LA
2007 Spurs sweep Cavs <--------------------------------------
2006 Heat beat Mavs

So, to be honest the last time an eventual champion met a pushover was either in 2009 or 2007.

I was clearly talking about the entire season and particularly the playoffs.

[cd98]

I'm looking forward to seeing if Diaw can school Green like he did a few years ago in the Playoffs.