Anyone but the Warriors, please

Who else can’t wait to see the Golden State Warriors go down in flames next season?

With apologies to Sandpoint boys basketball head coach Kent Leiss, a longtime Warriors fan, they are now public enemy No. 1, at least as far as most NBA fans are concerned.

In case you missed it, the team coming off an NBA-record 73 win season just added four-time league scoring champion Kevin Durant, considered by most to be one of the top three players in basketball.

Yes, the rich got richer. Like when the Yankees were winning World Series titles, then buying the best free agents after small market teams (read farm clubs) could not afford to keep their best players. Like when Microsoft or Starbucks stock goes up, or big oil or big pharmacy see profits rise.

Or closer to home, when the University of Bishop Kelly wins a state title in anything.

Diminished are the great memories of Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes, the former a 90 percent underhanded free throw shooter and the latter known for his funky around-the-head jumper, leading the Warriors past Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld’s Bullets for an NBA title in 1975.

Diminished are the fun memories of Run TMC, also known as Tim Hardaway, Mitch Ritchmond and Chris Mullin, running and gunning back in the early 90s. Remember Don Nelson, the mad scientist coach known for “Nellie Ball?” Those were exciting and memorable teams, and fun to root for.

So was the latest incarnation, led by the Splash Brothers and a highly-likable head coach in Steve Kerr. People laughed five years ago when then coach Mark Jackson called Curry and Thompson the greatest shooting duo in NBA history, but now he looks like Nostradamus.

But now the best shooting duo in NBA history is also adding the Slim Reaper, or the Durantula, if you prefer. Add in Draymond Green, who some argue might be the Warriors’ most important player, and you have what amounts to a super power.

Now the NBA has a Goliath to root against, which is always good for ratings. The Vegas odds are now 3:2 that the Warriors will win an NBA title next year, meaning you would have to bet $150 just to win $100.

Now the Western and Eastern Conferences have no parity, and the playoffs will hit the snooze button until LeBron and the Cavs face the mighty Warriors, right?

Hopefully not. It was always a bit dyspeptic when the Yankees bought titles, and the Warriors are now riding in the same gluttonous boat.

Hopefully the Thunder, who many felt were the best playoff team in the NBA a month ago, will ride the immense and largely hidden skillset of former Zag Domantas Sabonis past the Warriors next season. Or the Spurs, Clippers or Trailblazers will buck the odds and advance to the NBA Finals.

Anyone but the Warriors.

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