LeBron James is headed to a seventh straight NBA Finals appearance, so there's no reason not to think the Warriors can do at least one better with their superstar core, right?
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According to Jeff Van Gundy, who will call the three-match between the Cavaliers and Warriors for ABC, Golden State is actually capable of reaching 10 straight NBA Finals.
"I think when you’re the prohibitive favorite against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, that means you’re a heck of a team, and they sure are," Van Gundy said Tuesday on a conference media call.
"Just the combination of offense and defense, the talent that they’ve been able to amass, it puts them in position where this is a dynasty to me. They have their youth, their health. I see nothing preventing them from going to eight to 10 straight Finals. It will be a massive upset if they’re not there each and every year.”
To reach Van Gundy's minimum, the Warriors need to make five additional Finals in the tougher Western Conference. With the contract statuses of Kevin Durant (player option) and Stephen Curry (free agent) uncertain beyond July 1, it will take a lot of persuasion from the Warriors front office to keep the band together.
Maybe they can use Van Gundy's words as motivation to keep the All-Stars in the Bay Area.
"I just think the Warriors are just head and shoulders talent-wise above anybody else in the NBA," Van Gundy added. "Through a confluence of events, they were able to add Durant, and it’s great for the Warriors, great to have a great team.
"Someone’s going to have to step up in the East or in the West if we’re not to see [Warriors vs. Cavs] next year as well. It’s hard to imagine either team not being the heavy favorite next year going into their respective conferences."