Why 2016 Warriors core will earn redemption for 'underdog' Golden State

With Kevin Durant ruled out for at least the remainder of the Warriors-Rockets series with a calf strain (and probably longer), we get to see Golden State as an underdog -– a role it hasn't played during its five-year dynasty. For the Steph-Klay-Dray-Iggy core, this is actually a chance for redemption. This is the same core that broke basketball in 2015-16 by going 73-9 in the regular season, but then squandered a chance to be crowned the greatest team of all time by blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers in the Finals.

Unlike most great teams that went on to win multiple championships in the same era, the Warriors won their first title in 2015 with relative ease. They were the beneficiary of an injury to Mike Conley in the second round of the playoffs; avoided playing the Lob City Clippers in the conference finals because LA blew a 3-1 series lead against Houston; and barely beat LeBron James and a couple of guys from the Cleveland YMCA in the Finals after the Cavs lost Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

Then, after curb-stomping the entire league during their historic 2015-16 regular season, the Warriors lost their composure in the Finals to a full-strength Cavs team. Upon identifying a formidable foe in the LeBron-Kyrie-led Cavs, the Warriors essentially purchased the next two titles by signing Durant. This is the crux of why most people despise the Warriors -– we’re conditioned as sports fans to appreciate the journey and comeback from getting punched in the mouth. Instead of regrouping and coming back with a vengeance, the Warriors had their daddy (Joe Lacob) hire Deebo from Friday (Durant) to beat up the other kids on the block. They cheated the process.

But with Deebo out, the 2016 core has a chance for a reprieve. Yes, times have changed since 2016 -– the Warriors don’t have nearly as deep a bench as they had that season and the other kids on the block have spent the past two years figuring how to exploit their weaknesses. The Lineup of Death doesn’t strike the same fear into opponents as it once did. You can also see that this Rockets team has a superior modern basketball strategy -- it maximizes the number of threes and shot attempts in the restricted area. The Warriors, who lead the Rockets 3-2 in the Western semis, didn't have to contend with that three seasons ago.

At the same time, the Warriors have adjustments of their own they can make to ensure that this dynasty doesn’t abruptly end. When Durant went down, you saw Steph Curry revert to the unpredictable, unconscious Curry we witnessed in 2016 (and whenever Durant is off the court). 

“I think when Kevin went out, Steph just went into a different mindset," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Game 5. "Kind of reminded me of four, five years ago before we had Kevin. We were heavily dependent on Steph generating a lot of our offense back then.”

A liberated Curry means that the Rockets’ defense must be more aware than ever –- especially with blitzing, switching, trapping and hedging pick-and-rolls. A slow rotation will lead to wide-open shots for Klay Thompson and slips to the basket for Draymond Green. Ironically, just when the Rockets had figured how to slow the KD Warriors by playing five-out and PJ Tucker at center, they must de-emphasize that lineup to account for the presence of Kevon Looney or Andrew Bogut on the boards. This means the Rockets' Clint Capela must bust out of his funk.

Will the 2016 core of the Warriors redeem itself? My prediction is  …YES. I think the Rockets will be thrown off by the Steph-centric, “beautiful basketball” playing style like they were after Durant’s injury in Game 5. Houston will suffer a letdown at home. Warriors in six.