The Warriors are two games away from cementing perhaps the greatest single season in NBA history. They set the all-time single season record for wins with 73, and though injuries and fatigue have made them look more vulnerable in the playoffs, they’ve still cleared every hurdle and look like the heavy favorites to take home the title. If and when they wrap that up, they’ll no longer be facing off against the Cavaliers, but with teams of history.
Of course, that’s already been going on since the 72-win record was in sight, with the oldheads desperately insisting that the Warriors are a product of their time and couldn’t hack it if they were dropped into a game with the dominant teams of yesteryear. Now, the comparisons are getting more recent: Shaquille O’Neal unsurprisingly boasted that his 2001 Lakers squad could handle these Dubs:
“If you’re using [2001] rules, we’d win. Now we use these rules these days, we’d still win, because you wouldn’t be allowed to touch me, you wouldn’t be allowed to touch Kobe,” O’Neal said. “So yeah, that’s how I always look at it.”
Like with all previous comparisons, this is barely worth the energy, except to mention that more fouls on Shaq means more free throws for Shaq.
But the big man also made a point about these Finals, and Kevin Love’s disastrous performance, consistent with his old school attitude.
“Kevin Love’s getting punked by Draymond, he really is,” O’Neal said during an interview with The Associated Press. “I hate to be the one to say it, but he has to step up. You can’t let a guy do the muscle thing in your face and you don’t respond.”
Kevin, we don’t recommend starting a fight with Draymond. He likes to use his legs.
(Via AP)
