Everyone knows that only the Warriors can stop the Warriors from winning the NBA title again this year. And as the hype builds for Warriors’ season, there is something that could make the Warriors trip over their lucrative shoelaces – fatigue.
It’s amazing the team is already back to open the regular season. The Warriors won their title in June, and by September, they were back in training camp. That’s two months of rest after a grueling 10-month trail and for the third straight season. What’s going to be the cumulative impact of so much basketball?
Throw in the Warriors’ high-tempo style both on offense and defense, and the are the Warriors are primed to possibly win less than 67 games this year (Vegas has the over-under on team wins at 67.5). And more importantly, will they have enough juice to extend their season another two months for the fourth straight year?
The Lakers are the best example of a team that went back-to-back-to-back-to-back in the finals in the last 45 years. So here’s their history. In 2011, L.A., after appearing in three straight finals, won 57 games (just like the year before), but lost in the Western Conference Finals.
Ten years earlier, the Lakers won three straight titles, but in their fourth try they dropped from 58 wins to 50 and were again ousted in the Conference finals.
After three straight finals appearance leading up to the 1988-89 season, the Lakers won 62 games, compared to 57 games the year before. However, they couldn’t get out of the Western Conference finals.
The 1984-85 Lakers are the team the Warriors want to emulate. They appeared in the three prior finals (winning the first and losing the next two) and then won again on their fourth appearance. They also improved their season record by eight wins for a total of 62 from the year before.
Boston took three trips to the FInals in the 1980s and then lost in the finals in their fourth attempt in 1986-7. They also went from 67 wins the year before, to 59 wins.
The Bulls and Heat both appeared in three straight finals, with Chicago winning all three. However, then they failed to qualify for the playoffs after Michael Jordan retired. The Heat also went playoff-less after three straight appearances following LeBron James departure.
The upshoot, of the five teams that didn’t lose a superstar and appeared in their fourth straight finals, only one won it all. And only two teams improved their record for the year before. However, none of those teams were as talented as this Warriors team.
Nevertheless, Golden State will have to fight complacency and cumulative fatigue as much as their opponents this season.