Small ball, pace and space, All-Star votes and win streaks are all things that fans associate with the Golden State Warriors as they attempt their NBA takeover. But the more you think about it, the more you realize that not all of their greatness is a reinvention of the wheel.
On the west coast, fans have seen Mike D’Antoni‘s Phoenix Suns have years of regular season success fostering the formula. However, their lack of championship rings made it far less of a blueprint. The similarities in gameplay between the Suns and Warriors are obvious though — from the flashy point guards to the dead-eye three-point shooters and sporting Leandro Barbosa on the bench.
Yet the Miami Heat feel like a better all-around comparison. So much so that it was almost comical to see their center, Hassan Whiteside, on the opposite side of a “small ball” argument with the Warriors’ Draymond Green. So much so that Dwyane Wade felt the need to implore Andre Iguodala to “enjoy it” and not “take it for granted” after their matchup Monday night.
Think about it: Fans line up early at arenas just to get a peek at Stephen Curry‘s pre-tip shooting routine the same way they packed the house and streamed LeBron James‘ pregame Miami dunk fests. Add to that that the 36-2 Warriors are looking poised to match or beat the Chicago Bulls‘ all-time NBA wins record of 72-10, a mark that the Heat were predicted to reach, but could not.
Still, this Golden State team does not have the Heatles effect. Jersey sales are up, as well as ESPN coverage, but there is much less fanfare. They gained their first loss and people did not seem as interested after. The story of the team did not consume everyone in the midst of football season the way fans clamored for the Heat.
Maybe it is the east coast bias or the fact that Warriors games come on so late that half of the country is missing it. Perhaps it is just as simple as the defending champions being likable guys with a baby-faced Curry and no big personalities. They aren’t polarizing enough to steal the nation’s complete attention, because the masses are not poking around simply waiting for failure to happen. In other words, their run is missing a dab of King James.
