The Golden State Warriors are seeing their NBA dynasty crumble around them. Steve Kerr’s men have been one of the most dominant sides in the history of the league. They will be remembered in the same ilk of the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, the Boston Celtics of the 1950s and 1980s, along with the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s and the early 2000s.
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant were unstoppable as a foursome on the court, delivering three NBA Championships and five-straight appearances in the Finals. It was not just the volume of victories over the course of five years – it was the manner of their performances.
They didn’t just win, the Warriors brushed aside the majority of their opponents and when it was time to be clinical they were just that against quality players. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to get one title away from Kerr’s men, while Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors snatched the other away last year, capitalizing on Durant and Thompson’s injuries.
With Durant gone and Thompson sidelined there was huge pressure on Curry to carry the load. However, he is expected to miss at least three months due to a hand injury, leaving the Warriors with only Green from the foursome left to battle with D’Angelo Russell and back-end roster players. To say it has been a struggle would be an understatement, with the club winning only four out of their opening 22 games. Their price of 500/1 in the latest basketball odds to in the Pacific Division highlights how far they have fallen. It will be hurting Kerr, Thompson and Curry to see the decline, although the odds were stacked against them anyway due to the rise of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference.
The Warriors’ decline could be foreshadowing the next dynasty in the sporting world to end. The New England Patriots have shown vulnerabilities to their rivals in the AFC in their two defeats this term and the looming presence of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills could also throw a spanner in the works for the defending Super Bowl champions. Tom Brady and his offense have been stagnant over the course of the campaign, with the 42-year-old falling below the standards he has produced during his distinguished career. Outside of Julian Edelman and James White, there is a dearth of talent for the quarterback to work with.
New England’s outstanding defense has propelled them to towards a 10-win campaign at the time of writing and they should still be on course for a bye in the post-season. However, with defeats at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans – there is a sense that the young quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes are coming for the champions. Without Brady and key players aging on defense – there could be a feeling that New England’s time at the top could be coming to an end just as the Warriors have found this term. One dynasty has fallen, perhaps an even stronger one could see its end too?