If there鈥檚 anything that characterizes the Warriors鈥 ability to keep redefining greatness in a day and age of intense competition, it鈥檚 their commitment to continuous improvement. Their refusal to accept the status quo has effectively allowed them to be moving targets. They鈥檝e kept even the most prepared opposition at bay with their unique blend of front office vision and support, progressive coaching style and substance, and absolute roster buy-in that preserves a clearly defined pecking order. It鈥檚 why they鈥檝e retained their position as the National Basketball Association鈥檚 gold standard, and why they鈥檝e weathered storms from outside and within.
Given the Warriors鈥 accomplishments, they wouldn鈥檛 have been faulted if they opted not to fix what wasn鈥檛 broken at any time in the last half decade. Instead, they鈥檝e taken on the mindset of challengers to the throne, constantly pushing to be better. Indeed, they regard themselves as their hardest hurdles, and act accordingly. The collective push has perpetuated a culture of sacrifice; marquee names have been only too glad to take less compensation in order to open up cap space for more talent. They know the opportunities will come, and they鈥檙e primed to take advantage precisely because they had the foresight to prepare.
Which is why the Warriors raised no eyebrows when news of their intent to sign former slotman Andrew Bogut to a contract for the remainder of the season. At first glance, they don鈥檛 seem to need his services, and not just because he has been out of the NBA for the last 14 months. An old 34 with a brittle body, he doesn鈥檛 appear likely to crack a rotation that already boasts of four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins at the five spot. And still they鈥榬e taking him in, for the most part because they understand the importance of a veteran with championship experience in keeping a locker room united and engaged under pressure.
In other words, the Warriors are high on intangibles. For all their capacity to put up ridiculous numbers, they believe they鈥檙e able to stay ahead of their so-called peers because of factors that don鈥檛 show up in scoresheets and stat lines. At this point, the Bucks and the Raptors have superior records. With the hardware on the line, though, they鈥檙e the clear-cut favorites. Their togetherness under fire is unparalleled. From ownership to scrub. From Boogie to Bogut. From basketball court to backyard. There鈥檚 a reason they鈥檙e defending titleholders, and there鈥檚 a reason they鈥檙e seen to stay that way when the 2019-20 season begins.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since 大象传媒 introduced a Sports section in 1994.
