The Things That Made The Warriors So Fun To Watch Inevitably Cost Them Back-To-Back Championships

This defensive performance by Kevin Love on Steph Curry was as important as any play in the game pic.twitter.com/HCydWHyt5Q

— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) June 20, 2016

Look, I am not saying that unnecessary behind the back passes and forced off balance 3-pointers were the key to the Warriors historical season. It takes a lot more than video game-esque plays to win 73 games in the regular season and come within one victory of back-to-back titles. Golden State's ball movement, shooting, and ability to create matchup nightmares (in large part due to Draymond Green) were all critical to their success. That said, it's plays like those above that we were all so quick to praise when they worked out, so we shouldn't hesitate to criticize them when they don't. The reason that the Warriors were must watch television is because they defied the odds. Simply put, they played low percentage basketball at a much higher percentage than anyone else in the history of the sport. I don't exactly have stats to back this up, but considering they were the winningest team ever I feel pretty comfortable saying no team has been as prosperous while all but ignoring their own proclivity to turning the ball over.

And it doesn't stop with reckless shots and fancy passes. The aggressiveness of Draymond Green - that people so often lauded throughout the year - finally came to a head...of a man's penis...multiple times...and likely allowed the Cavaliers to gain the confidence they needed to spark their series turnaround. Klay Thompson is crucial to Golden State because he brings the skill set of a #1 option without demanding the ball as much a #1 option, yet his failure to do so proved detrimental seeing as he was their most consistent player throughout the entirety of the playoffs. We love the Warriors because we have never seen a team play - and more importantly win - like the Warriors, but when those ill advised shots aren't falling they go from looking carefree to careless. Steph Curry could have driven past Kevin Love on like 13 different occasions in a 20 second span, but he was obsessed with the idea of tying the game when their was still plenty of time left on the clock. The 'And 1' street ball routine he put on in the closing minute of Game 7 of the NBA Finals was not smart basketball, and we should not act like it was just because we like the guy who was doing it. That's not to say that Golden State should change what got them with 6 points of a repeat but it is to say that who they are is not without potential pitfalls, and we saw them come to the forefront at the worst possible time.