The Warriors are regarded as an inevitable dynasty. Their offense is historic. Their star players are all in their prime. They’ve already won a title. The popular sentiment is they’ll win three or four more.
In his opening rant today, Colin said assumed dynasties never last. He picks the Warriors to win the title this year, but doesn’t think they’ll be a dynasty.
Everyone assumed LeBron’s Heat, the Seahawks, the Rams “Greatest Show on Turf”, and Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans would all be dynasties. None of them lasted.
The same key factors almost always contribute to the downfall of assumed dynasties like the Warriors: injuries, free agency, player egos and competition adapting.
Steph Curry gets hurt.
“He’s not built like LeBron, not built like MJ, not built like Pippen. He’s not built like Kobe. He’s not built like Westbrook.”
Versatile and unselfish small forward Harrison Barnes is likely leaving in free agency this off season. More will follow.
The entire league is adapting to the Warriors’ style of play. The Cavs, for example, have completely revamped their roster and style of play to compete with the Warriors up tempo, three-point based offense.
The volatile Draymond Green has a growing ego that could become more of a problem. Colin doesn’t think Green will continue to be content as the third star on the team.
“I think Draymond Green is gonna wear these guys out. He’s going from a fun energy guy to a pain in the butt Rodmanesque guy if they win another title.”
The Seattle Seahawks most closely mirror the current Warriors. They blew out the Broncos in the 2013 Super Bowl. They were stacked with young talent, including young star quarterback Russell Wilson and a dominant defense.
After their Super Bowl, player egos were inflated, players left in free agency, and teams adapted to compete with them. They haven’t won a Super Bowl since. Last year, the Seahawks were a missed 20-yard field goal away from losing to the Vikings in the first round of the Playoffs.
Here’s a clip from another dynasty that didn’t last: