On the fateful night of April 25, 2016, the Dallas Mavericks lost the "Win Or Go Home" game against Oklahoma City, losing their place in the chase for the NBA finals. Naturally, as a Dallas fan, I was crushed. After that night, I decided that I didn't want to sit around and watch the subsequent games as religiously as before. Was it because I was being a sore loser? Maybe. But it also had a lot to do with the fact that I really wasn't a fan of the teams, and I really wasn't going to pretend to be either. I mean really, there's no point.
I refuse to be a front runner.
For those of you who don't know what a front runner is, basically it's someone who doesn't care about a team until they win a championship or do something important. Then, they claim they were a fan the entire time. It's extremely annoying, and really those people are the worst. Other words to describe these awful creatures include "bandwagoner", and "fair-weather fan." Just do yourself, and all of us, a favor and don't be that person.
I'll admit that I did start to follow Golden State when they were on the way to win their record-breaking 73rd game. They played the LA Lakers the night they made history and, I watched for a few reasons. One, because I wanted to see if they could actually make it happen and two, it was Kobe Bryant's last game as an NBA player. After that I kept up here and there through all of Steph Curry's injuries and their advancement into the Finals. But, I'm no "day one", die hard fan. I mean I really don't know anyone on the team besides the obvious, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and, Klay Thompson and, that's only because they're the top three players on the team. If I don't see their names, I go by the color jersey they're wearing that night. Otherwise, I really couldn't tell you who's who. Not my team, not my main priority. Sorry fellas.
Anyway, the Warriors are doing wonderfully. As of today (June 9) they're winning 2-1, and the next few games are going to be crucial to both Cleveland and Golden State. They're scheduled to play best out of 7, but if Golden State wins these next few games, they're taking it home. However, it's not safe to count your chickens before they hatch.
Either way, the road to the finals was lonely without Dallas, and as much as I wish they were there, I do believe that both the Cavs and Warriors really worked hard to get where they are. I guess we'll just have to wait see what happens!