Charles Barkley is starting to hop on the Golden State warriors’ bandwagon, apparently. After witnessing how the Warriors destroyed the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two games and then eked out a victory in a close contest in Game 3, Barkley really thinks the future is bright for the star-studded Warriors moving forward.
Dubs bound for multiple championships
Barkley, who has a tenuous relationship with Warriors fandom the past 2-3 years, only has good things to say about the future of the franchise. “The Durant factor to go with Steph and Klay, these guys are going to win.
If they can keep everybody healthy, they are going to win multiple championships. I mean obviously this summer they got to make deal on Steph and Kevin, give them $200 million. That’s a lot of money for two guys. But man this team, they are the best team. It’s beautiful to watch.”
Durant and Curry are expected to hit the free-agency market this summer, and both of them are eligible for the designated veteran player’s extension. It means the Warriors’ MVPs are eligible to earn a starting salary of $35 million per season upward in their next contract. However, the Warriors will also have to figure out how to keep their role players such as Andre Igoudala and Shaun Livingston, who both are outstanding off the bench.
Are the Warriors the best single season team of all time?
After setting a regular-season record with 73 wins and almost winning the NBA championship last year, the Warriors are on the brink of wrapping their impeccable playoffs with a 16-0 record on Friday. The 2015/16 Warriors were already the best regular-season team ever after breaking the 1996 Bulls’ 72-10 slate, but will sweeping the Cavs justify the Warriors as the greatest single season team ever?
Shaquille O’Neal, who was part of the Lakers team that went 15-1 in the playoffs in 2001, thinks the answer to that question could be both yes and no. “I have to say on their run to the finals, yes and no.” Shaq said in the post-game analysis on NBA TV. “I love the conversations because we will never know the true answers. You know you can’t forget about the Celtics, you can’t forget about the Lakers, you can’t forget about me and Kobe 15-1, but to say that they are the best ever, I am a little biased about that because the Celtics and the Lakers and the Pistons and the Bulls had their runs.”
Again, the Warriors can wrap up the series on Friday at the Q Arena with another win over the Cavaliers. On the other hand, the Cavaliers will attempt to live for another day as they look to become the first team to overcome a 0-3 series deficit in the playoffs and in the NBA Finals.
