On Sunday night, the Golden State Warriors fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game seven of the NBA Finals in what will most likely go down as one of the most memorable playoff games ever. The Warriors became the first team to ever lose a Finals series after leading 3-1. However, while the team, as well as it fans, have barely had a chance to comprehend what they just witnessed the Las Vegas oddsmakers are already looking towards next season.
As the odds sit now, the Warriors are 7-4 favorites to win their second title in three years. The now defending champions Cavaliers are next sitting at 5-2, followed by contenders San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder at 6-1 and 8-1 respectively. While it may seem odd to already be considering next season, so is the nature of the beast for those in the gambling business.
Before worrying about their odds for next season though, the Warriors will need to do some serious soul searching after letting the championship and title of undisputed greatest season in NBA history slip right through their fingers. The Warriors struggled mightily after going up 3-1 and splash brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson never really got it going, even in the first four games. One stat particularly stands out after the Dubs collapse.
The playoffs proved to be a different beast for the Warriors pic.twitter.com/SM7am1R4vo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 20, 2016
After running roughshod over the league in the regular-season, resulting in a NBA record 73-9 mark, the Warriors never reached the same heights in the playoffs. The fabled “Lineup of Death” didn’t nearly have the same effect as it did in the finals last year. Also after center Andrew Bogut went down in game 5, the Warriors struggled with the Cavaliers size and speed in transition.
In the last 3 games of the #NBAFinals @cavs outscored @warriors 65-26 in fast break PTS & 138-88 in PTS in the paint pic.twitter.com/HdVm2WDLj3
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) June 20, 2016
So the odds for next June, assuming the Warriors even get there again, are the last thing that should be on the fans and players minds. The Dubs are facing a massive offseason full of roster choices that are going to set the tone for the direction of the franchise for the next five to ten years. The team that will take the court at the beginning of next season will certainly have a different look than the team the league has grown accustomed to the past few seasons.
Here is a look at the Warriors free agents. This team is going to look quite different next year. pic.twitter.com/nZzjNzIb5O
— LEFT (@LeftSentThis) June 20, 2016
There are also rumors of the team pursuing former MVP Kevin Durant of the Thunder to add to a roster that will already boast the likes of reigning back to back MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. While many around the league believe that this is nothing more than wild speculation, the thought alone has to send shivers down the spines of every other team in the NBA.
There will be plenty of time for these rumors to come and go in the offseason, but right now, the Warriors are concerned about readying themselves for the beginning of next season and trying to keep their heads held high.
.@StephenCurry30 on the team's mindset heading into the offseason pic.twitter.com/SXtuHrbQ9T
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
.@Money23Green on a tough Game 7 loss pic.twitter.com/lVqjGIK3EH
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
The Warriors won 73 out of 82 games, a record that is still hard to believe. No one can take that away from them, and while right now everyone will be trying to diminish this, the fact remains that the Warriors broke a record that many thought was untouchable.
The Warriors have two of the greatest shooters of all time and a head coach who is changing the way that basketball is being played. The loss to the Cavaliers will always hurt, but there is no reason to suggest that the Warriors wont be right back in the thick of things next season and beyond.
Can anyone say 74 wins?
Here are some highlights of the Warriors magical 2015-16 regular season.