The Golden State Warriors have won the last two NBA championships, and they had just one loss in the Finals in the two series combined. They’re off to an 8-1 start this season, and it goes without saying that they are the overwhelming favorites to win yet another title.
But which team poses the biggest threat?
Sam Amick of The Athletic asked several Warriors players which teams they believe are the most capable of knocking them off their throne. Draymond Green quickly brought up the Boston Celtics.
“I just think with the tools that they have, and the way the game is set up today, with small-ball and all that stuff, (center) Al Horford can switch onto guards. That would be their five in that lineup,” Green said. “And then obviously, you’ve got Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie (Irving), Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris. They’ve got a lot of guys who fit right into that style of play, with the experience of playing with Kyrie, who isn’t backing down from anyone.”
Kevin Durant rattled off a handful of teams that he believes will be tough competition for Golden State, but he also settled on the Celtics when pressed to pick one.
“They’ve got a deep team. They’ve got a collection of talented scorers where it’s going to be hard to switch guys on,” he said. “They’ve got a big man (in Horford) who can facilitate like Draymond. They’ve got a great coach (in Brad Stevens), a great atmosphere, a great home court advantage, and they’ve got a lot of length. Those are usually the teams that give us trouble.”
Both Green and Durant pointed to Irving’s playoff experience as one of the main reasons the Celtics could get the best of the Warriors. It’s hard to argue against that, and Boston reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season without both Irving and Hayward.
Anyone who saw the way Tatum dunked on LeBron James and taunted him during the playoffs last year knows the Celtics aren’t going to be intimidated by the Warriors if they meet them in the Finals. Golden State’s biggest stars know that, too.
