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The Golden State Warriors May Just Be Better Without Kevin Durant

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, one of, if not the best, the player in basketball, Kevin Durant went down with a left calf injury since then the Golden State Warriors have looked unstoppable.

Patrick Renaldo

May 31, 2019

University of Kentucky

@warriors

In the summer of 2016, when Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, at the time, the Warriors looked to be unstoppable and have proved that right, by winning two championships back to back. Some wondered could Warriors keep this success without KD, and the Warriors have also proved that they can keep playing at this high of a level without Durant. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Durant suffered a right calf injury, and since then the Warriors have gone 5-0, and look to continue this run to a third straight championship.

Draymond Green has picked up the slack for KD.

In the early goings of the 2018-2019 NBA season, there was an on and off court disagreement between Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green, both of whom play for the Golden State Warriors. In a media session, Green said that the Warriors won without KD, and can win without KD. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant went down with a left calf injury. After that, the Warriors would win the next 2 games and then go onto sweep the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. During that stretch, Green average 16.5 points, a game, and Stephen Curry set the record for most points by a player in a 4 game sweep in NBA Playoffs history, with 146. There has also been an outstanding performance by Klay Thompson, who along with Curry, and Green have been with the Warriors since their 2014 NBA Championship.

Does KD need to come back and be effective with the Warriors?

If the Golden State Warriors want to win the 2019 NBA Finals, they don't need KD in order to do that, yes it would be nice, but KD needs the Warriors more than the Warriors need KD. This summer, Kevin Durant will become a free agent and is looking to join Kyrie Irving, and possibly RJ Barrett with the New York Knicks. If Durant doesn't come back to the Warriors, and they win the NBA Finals, with ease, does that diminish the value of Kevin Durant to other teams? As FOX Sports analyst Skip Bayless put it on Skip and Shannon Undisputed. "the worst case scenario for Kevin Durant is, he comes back for Game 1 (of the NBA Finals) and they lose to whoever they would play, probably Milwaukee." If a fully healthy, and rested Kevin Durant were to come back for the NBA Finals, and they sweep whoever they would play, and Kevin Durant can average 35+ in that series, then Durant may be the most treasured free agent in recent NBA History (yes that includes LeBron James in 2010/2014)

Has this run helped solidify the greatness of Steph Curry?

Since Game 5 when KD was injured, the Golden State Warriors have looked, and been unbeatable, but someone who has played out of their mind is Steph Curry. Curry averaged 36 points during that time span and has looked like he can't miss even if he tried to miss. While Steph Curry has been considered one of the best point guards in the game right now, this run he has had throughout the playoffs has made some question whether Curry is the greatest point guard of all time. While Curry may not be at the level in which Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson ever was, but he sure has made his case for being one of the top three best point guards of all time.

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The Golden State Warriors May Just Be Better Without Kevin Durant

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, one of, if not the best, the player in basketball, Kevin Durant went down with a left calf injury since then the Golden State Warriors have looked unstoppable.

Draymond Green has picked up the slack for KD.

Does KD need to come back and be effective with the Warriors?

Has this run helped solidify the greatness of Steph Curry?

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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