Skip to main content

CSN Bay Area

HOME  >  NEWS  >  SPORTS
Destroying LeBron ends all Warriors 'who would win' debates
Share This Post
Comments
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 - 12:15pm
Follow @rattocsn

I really thought we were finally over this festival of “The Warriors are/are not better than Fill-In-The-Blank” arglebargle. I really thought when the ghost of Wally Osterkorn was dredged up in a séance to say that the 1955 Syracuse Nationals would have mopped the floor with this Golden State team that we had exhausted the entire tedious narrative.

But no. Klay Thompson said after Sunday’s 256-point Golden State win over Cleveland that the Warriors are better than the Showtime Lakers, and Magic Johnson responded with a cheery “No you’re not.”

[RELATED: Magic disagrees: 'My Lakers would beat the Warriors']

It makes a person wonder if old people and young people simply aren’t meant to communicate at all.

Thompson was kidding, clearly, as part of a sensible answer Draymond Green was giving about whether beating the Cavs into plowshares proves that Golden State is one of the best teams of all time.

“I don't really look at are you the best team of all time, are we the best team of all time?” Green said. “Because I think it's all subjective. To say we're better than the Showtime Lakers, how can you say that? We never played them.”

Logical. Gracious. Defensible on every level. Perfectly within normal bounds of human discourse. And then Thompson went for an innocent laugh.

“We are better than the Showtime Lakers.”

Then Green continued: “Like saying we're better than the Bulls, it's like we'll never play them. It's two completely different eras. So I don't really get off on the ‘are you the best team of all times.’”

But that’s the deal. Something funny is said, it is stripped of its humor in the third retelling, and someone gets bent about it.

This is the problem with gauging the entire Warriors’ true intrinsic value argument. The numbers are sufficient if you measure by numbers -- they have won 170 games in two years, more than any other team in the sport’s history save the Harlem Globetrotters -- but “best” is like “most valuable” in that means whatever the user wants it to mean.

“Best,” in fact, actually means “favorite, based on biases and youthful experiences that are either sentimental, nebulous or just plain nonsense.” That’s why these debates persist -- because we’re bored.

And for this, we can blame the Warriors for threatening us with a drama-deficient Finals.

The Cavaliers are home for Game 3, and as geared up to mend the images of Games 1 and 2 as their roster and tactical matchups will allow. Of course, because we remember mostly the last thing we saw, most folks think the effort will be in vain. Put another way, a second LeBron James ain’t walking through that door.

But if the Warriors hold off the Cavs, and then again in Game 4 Friday, they will be the sixth team to sweep a Finals series since the now-renamed Washington Bullets in 1975 (2007 San Antonio, 2002 Los Angeles, 1995 Houston, 1989 Detroit and 1983 Philadelphia). And you know we’ll be back at it, trying to fit them in in the pantheon’s organizational chart. And worse, we’ll be trying to dragoon old players from great teams of the past to defend their honor by looking like fossilized coots. It’s a game they can’t win -- betray their deeds or betray those of the new generation.

Frankly, this looks like a job for Andre Iguodala, who, if we understand his passions correctly, will answer the matter of where the Warriors rank all-time by saying what we think is in his heart except in those times when he is discomforting James on the floor.

Namely, “No, Tiger Woods in his prime is better than us.” It’s hard to muster an argument for that.

NBCBayArea.com

There is no data to display.

Video

Glen & Ray find positives in Hahn's short outing vs Brewers
STL: Facing elimination in Cup Final, will DeBoer shorten bench?
Anchorman Dave Feldman gets kiss from Cavs fan on live TV before Game 3
Horrow: Warriors leveraging social media for huge attention

Giants

LIVE: Red Sox vs Giants
Giants notes: Cain faces hitters; New catcher for Bumgarner
Giants lineup: Panik, Posey out vs Price, Red Sox
Krukow: Strickland, Osich 'need to get better'
Read More

Athletics

Instant Replay: A's shut out in Milwaukee, lose fifth straight
Notes: A's Hill suffers setback, scheduled for MRI
A's lineup: No changes for Game 2 behind Jesse Hahn
Morning After: A’s getting more production from Country Breakfast
Read More

Sharks

Gretzky praises Crosby: 'Took his play to another level'
Limiting Pittsburgh's shots on Sharks priority list
Sharks staying loose ahead of Game 5 in Pittsburgh
Mailbag: Sharks Dillon, Polak struggling against Pens
Read More

49ers

Rams waive Bailey, but gunshot victim will stay around team
49ers minicamp observations: Offense wins the day
49ers' Joe Staley to compete on game show
No regrets for retired 49ers LB Borland: 'Sound decision'
Read More

Raiders

Del Rio joins Twitter, plans to 'share a little insight'
Report: Von Miller rejects Broncos' $114.5 million offer
Raiders' Cooper, Smith to compete on game show
Heeney earns Raiders confidence: Time to 'prove these guys right'
Read More

Warriors

Instant Replay: Warriors manhandled by Cavs in Game 3
Warriors ready for Love-less Cavs, must 'cut off LeBron'
With Cavs down 2-0, Ryan invites LeBron to play for Bills
Kerr ‘devastated’ by death of former teammate Sean Rooks
Read More

NCAA

Two years after taking Cal job, Martin finally signs contract
Six-month sentence for Stanford swimmer draws strong response
Former four-star QB Kline to transfer from Cal yet again
Report: Ex-Deer Valley star expected to transfer to Cal
Read More
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • G-Mag
  • When Giants Fan Met Dodgers Fan
  • Amy G
  • Insider Alex Pavlovic
  • Buy Giants Gear
  • Buy Giants Tickets

Latest News

LIVE: Red Sox vs Giants
(1)
CSN Bay Area staff

GIANTS VIDEO

Suarez will be 'mentally ready' to start or come out of bullpen
Suarez will be 'mentally ready' to start or come out of bullpen
See more >

GIANTS INSIDER

  • Giants notes: Cain faces hitters; New catcher for Bumgarner
  • Rewind: Walks, little mistakes haunt Giants in late loss
  • Instant Replay: Giants fall to Red Sox in extra innings
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • All A's
  • Eireann Dolan's Call to the 'Pen
  • Insider Joe Stiglich
  • Buy Athletics Gear
  • Buy Athletics Tickets

Latest News

Instant Replay: A's shut out in Milwaukee, lose fifth straight
Joe Stiglich

A's VIDEO

Glen & Ray find positives in Hahn's short outing vs Brewers
Glen & Ray find positives in Hahn's short outing vs Brewers
See more >

A's INSIDER

  • Instant Replay: A's shut out in Milwaukee, lose fifth straight
  • Notes: A's Hill suffers setback, scheduled for MRI
  • Morning After: A’s getting more production from Country Breakfast
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NHL Standings
  • Insider Kevin Kurz
  • Buy Sharks Gear
  • Buy Sharks Tickets

Latest News

Gretzky praises Crosby: 'Took his play to another level'
ProHockeyTalk

SHARKS VIDEO

STL: Facing elimination in Cup Final, will DeBoer shorten bench?
STL: Facing elimination in Cup Final, will DeBoer shorten bench?
See more >

SHARKS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Warriors Central
  • Steph-in' Amazing
  • Cookin' with the Currys
  • Insider Monte Poole
  • Buy Warriors Gear
  • Buy Warriors Tickets
  • Stream the Warriors on Live Extra

Latest News

Instant Replay: Warriors manhandled by Cavs in Game 3
(42)
Monte Poole

WARRIORS VIDEO

Anchorman Dave Feldman gets kiss from Cavs fan on live TV before Game 3
Anchorman Dave Feldman gets kiss from Cavs fan on live TV before Game 3
See more >

WARRIORS INSIDER

  • Instant Replay: Warriors manhandled by Cavs in Game 3
  • Warriors ready for Love-less Cavs, must 'cut off LeBron'
  • Kerr ‘devastated’ by death of former teammate Sean Rooks
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Insider James Ham
  • Buy Kings Gear
  • Buy Kings Tickets
  • Stream the Kings on Live Extra

Latest News

NBA Mock Draft: Kings pick floor general; Warriors target project
James Ham

Kings Video

STL: Joerger wants Cousins to be 'voice of positivity' for Kings
STL: Joerger wants Cousins to be 'voice of positivity' for Kings
See more >

KINGS INSIDER

  • LeBron: 'We can't have as many mental lapses' vs Warriors
  • Silver: Curry may be 'so good that no one else can touch him'
  • Cavs dominated by Warriors' bench in Game 1: 'Huge spark'
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Matt Maiocco
  • Buy 49ers Gear
  • Buy 49ers Tickets

Latest News

Rams waive Bailey, but gunshot victim will stay around team
Associated Press

49ers VIDEO

Colin Kaepernick participates in drills on Day 1 of 2016 49ers minicamp
Colin Kaepernick participates in drills on Day 1 of 2016 49ers minicamp
See more >

49ers INSIDER

  • 49ers minicamp observations: Offense wins the day
  • Torrey Smith reflects on Ali, not afraid to speak his mind
  • 49ers' O-line coach: Davis would have to prove himself
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Scott Bair
  • Buy Raiders Gear
  • Buy Raiders Tickets

Latest News

Del Rio joins Twitter, plans to 'share a little insight'
Scott Bair

RAIDERS VIDEO

Carr not fond of fights in practice: 'Got to take care of each other'
Carr not fond of fights in practice: 'Got to take care of each other'
See more >

RAIDERS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLS Standings
  • MLS Player Leaders
  • Buy Quakes Gear
  • Buy Quakes Tickets

Top Story

Dempsey, USMNT bounce back, beat Costa Rica 4-0
(2)
Julio Lara

More Stories

Burlingame Dragons FC, Quakes affiliate, beats Argentina
Sans Messi, Argentina wins Copa America opener at Levi's
(1)
See more >

Quakes Shop

JOE STIGLICH

Instant Replay: A's shut out in Milwaukee, lose fifth straight
See more >

ALEX PAVLOVIC

Giants notes: Cain faces hitters; New catcher for Bumgarner
(1)
See more >

MATT MAIOCCO

49ers minicamp observations: Offense wins the day
(16)
See more >

SCOTT BAIR

Del Rio joins Twitter, plans to 'share a little insight'
See more >

MONTE POOLE

Instant Replay: Warriors manhandled by Cavs in Game 3
(42)
See more >

JAMES HAM

NBA Mock Draft: Kings pick floor general; Warriors target project
See more >

KEVIN KURZ

Limiting Pittsburgh's shots on Sharks priority list
See more >

RAY RATTO

Destroying LeBron ends all Warriors 'who would win' debates

AFF - A'S

Authentic Fan Friday - A's

Come to Authentic Fan Friday at the A's! 

Sit in the Value Deck and score free giveaways - get more info here!

 

VOTE YOUR FAVORITE ALL-STAR TEACHER

ast

Vote for your favorite All-Star Teacher here!

The winner gets $20k for his/her school!

SAY HEY TUESDAY

s

Join us for Say Hey Tuesday – every Tuesday Giants home game.

NCAA

  • Stanford Football
  • Stanford Basketball
  • Stanford Women's Basketball
  • Cal Football
  • Cal Basketball
  • Cal Women's Basketball
  • SJSU Football
  • SJSU Basketball
  • USF Basketball
  • USF Women's Basketball
  • Saint Mary's Basketball
  • Santa Clara Basketball
  • Fresno State Football

MORE

  • Biz Ball
  • Combat Sports
  • Motor Sports
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Ray Ratto

 

TICKETS

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets
Curry Jersey
Giants Fitted Hat
49ers Hoodie

Mega Menu: Shop

  • Giants
  • A's Shop
  • 49ers
  • Raiders Shop
  • Warriors
  • Kings Shop
  • Sharks Shop

Mega Menu: Shop - Tickets

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets

Latest Videos

Glen & Ray find positives in Hahn's short outing vs Brewers
Glen & Ray find positives in Hahn's short outing vs Brewers
See more >

ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

  • G-Mag
  • All A's
  • Carpool Confessions
  • Steph-in' Amazing
  • Cookin' with the Currys
  • When Giants Fan Met Dodgers Fan
  • Amy G’s Exclusives
  • Eireann Dolan's Call to the 'Pen

TV SHOWS

  • All Videos
  • SportsNet Central
  • SportsTalk Live
  • But Seriously

INSIDERS

  • Ray Ratto - Senior Insider
  • Matt Maiocco - 49ers
  • Scott Bair - Raiders
  • Monte Poole - Warriors
  • James Ham - Kings
  • Kevin Kurz - Sharks
  • Joe Stiglich - A's
  • Alex Pavlovic - Giants
  • TV Schedule - Bay Area and California
  • Channel Locations - Bay Area
  • Channel Locations - California