It is pretty tough to argue the fact that the Golden State Warriors are one of the best teams in recent NBA history, evident by their run of four straight NBA Finals appearances.
They have won two out of the past three NBA Championships and on the verge of winning their third ring. The team started their legacy back in 2015 when they defeated these same Cleveland Cavaliers, and these two teams have met each year since matchup up in the NBA Finals in each of the past four years.
Currently, the Golden State Warriors are up 3-0 in the series with game four taking place on Friday Night in Cleveland. If the Cavaliers do not find a way to pull off the win, the Warriors will take home another ring and lament their name in the ranks of the greatest NBA teams of all times. The question arises just where does this rank the Warriors among the greatest NBA teams of all times?
If we go back just a few short years, we had the Miami Heat go to four straight NBA Finals, from 2011 to 2014 but the Heat only won two out of their four appearances in that stretch of games. That team was anchored by a powerful and high dollar lineup that set out from the beginning to build a dynasty and win rings. Prior to the Heat, we witnessed the LA Lakers under Phil Jackson go to three straight NBA Finals, winning two out of three.
And then there are the Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls, who went to six NBA Finals in eight years, winning all six in dominating fashion. We could compare that to the LA Lakers, who went to the NBA Finals in nine of twelve years and took home rings in five of those games. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Boston Celtics that went to four straight NBA Finals from 1984 to 1987, winning two rings during that time.
The list goes on and on with greatness in the NBA but the Warriors will have a ways to go if they want to be considered as good as the 1957 Boston Celtics that went to the NBA Finals in twelve times in thirteen years, winning rings in eleven of the twelve ventures. Many people consider the Boston team the greatest of all time and for right cause. With that amount of championships in such a short amount of time, it’s hard to dispute the fact that they are the greatest of all time.
The Warriors are nowhere near the level of the 1957 Boston Celtics that went on that mystical run but we can’t rule it out as this team is young and could be around for many years to come. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are going to remain in Golden State for the long haul and see how far and see just how far they can run this legacy. That legacy continues on Friday Night when they look to close out the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.