The Lunatic Fringe

Maybe this is disrespectful to the other guys on the Cavs, who showed some real fight.  Iman Shumpert in particular showed off a ball-hawk ability on defense that was impressive.

But Lebron James played like the best player in the world.  He outright said he was the best player in the world.

But he didn’t make his team better for it.

Let me tell you something, as a basketball fan growing up in the ’90’s.  One of the reasons it went from being my favorite sport to play and one of the top ones to watch (even more than the NFL) to a background sport, one I’d only watch if I happened to find it when I had nothing to do, came from the attitudes of the sport, and the transformation it began to go through in a Jordan world where the individual became bigger than the team.  Egos filled the game, and the court.  It became about one-on-one interactions.

Maybe it’s the baseball fan in me, but the self-boasting, ego-driven side of the game turned me off.  Maybe I’m behind the times…but it’s the truth.

The Warriors, however, were a team.  They cheered each other.  They worked well together.  They rotated.  Everyone had a great day, because they had the chance to.  And players might disappear for stretches, and still be ready when their number came up.  We’re all talking about Andre Igoudala, but it’s true all the way down to David Lee.

Now, I’m not stupid.  The team idea has been going on for a few years now.  Miami put together a team of superstars, though they weren’t invincible.  San Antonio has been an amazing team concept for a while.  But finally, I got to see it with my team.

Awesome.

Another thing about growing up a 90’s Warriors fan?  We finally have a true, effective big man center, that “white whale” of Don Nelson that inspired the grand search that prompted Billy Owens, Victor Alexander, Todd Fuller and so many others.

And he wasn’t needed and didn’t play in the clinching game of the NBA Finals.  Small ball truly won.

Awesome.  Just….awesome.