The 2017 NBA Playoffs are fast approaching, marking another opportunity for the NBA’s most feared Super Team to earn a second NBA Finals win. The Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green trio was already headed towards the they could be the greatest team ever discussion before they added Kevin Durant last summer. With Durant, they brought in another all-time talent, but added some serious all-time pressure. They are expected to win, and win big. That doesn’t mean competition won’t be fierce, or that the road won’t be difficult, but if you’ve got three top-10 players on one team, people expect greatness.
The Golden State Warriors should do this. When Curry, Thompson, Green, and Durant inevitably go their separate ways, it should be with a long history of NBA success trailing behind them. I’m not trying to downplay how difficult it is to win an NBA Championship, but most would agree – if this team doesn’t win, and win often, it’s going to be a disappointment.
Whenever we’re dealt a hand like this – a historically significant scenario that can be put through NBA 2K’s simulation algorithm, well, you can bet we’re going to do just that. We’ve already put the entire 2016-17 season, the post-DeMarcus Cousins trade Pelicans, and the rest of LeBron James’ career to the 2K simulation test. It’s the Warriors’ turn. It had to be done.
What kind of legacy does NBA 2K17 think this Warriors core will leave when it’s all said and done? You’re about to find out.
DISCLAIMER: The simulation results expressed in this article are those of NBA 2K17 and do not necessarily reflect the results expected by the author, or any agency of UPROXX. Viewer discretion is advised. Buckle up, it’s about to get weird.
2016-17
As expected, the Warriors land the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this season. Somewhat surprisingly, NBA 2K17 is predicting that the Portland Trailblazers land the 8th seed, otherwise know as the team that will be rewarded for its mediocrity with a first round sweep at the hands of the Warriors. Or so we thought. More on that in a minute.
Steve Kerr is rewarded with the NBA’s Coach of the Year award. Russell Westbrook is the MVP.
Despite common sense and logic, NBA 2K actually had Portland taking out the Warriors in round one. I know, I know. Don’t shoot the messenger.
To make matters worse for the Warriors, their archrival Cleveland Cavaliers picked up another NBA Finals win in their absence.
2017-18
The virtual Warriors spent the offseason searching for some interior help, eventually landing Tiago Splitter, Joffrey Lauvergne, and a returning Andrew Bogut to hopefully give themselves enough of a paint presence to get over the hump.
If you wanted a little spoiler as to where 2017-18 is going for the NBA 2K Warriors, I’ll let you know that the Minnesota Timberwolves somehow landed the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, forcing No. 2 seed Golden State into playing the Houston Rockets in round one.
The Rockets eliminated the Warriors in round one.
Oh, and the Cavaliers won again. I’m so sorry, Golden State.
2018-19
The ’18-19 Warriors added a few new NBA veterans to the big four in Brandan Wright, Corey Brewer, Marvin Williams, and Jarrett Jack. If you’re starting to notice a trend here, you should. The virtual NBA 2K Warriors had a really tough time surrounding Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Green with solid role players.
For the second straight season, the Warriors land the 2nd seed in the Western Conference only to be eliminated by the Houston Rockets in round one.
2019-20
With Curry and Durant into their ’30s at this point, the Warriors finally brought in some young talent they could theoretically develop into a real solid building block in Willie Cauley-Stein. It was a change of strategy from the previous NBA 2K Warriors that had been signing over-the-hill veterans every offseason.
In other shocking news, former Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams landed the prestigious Coach of the Year award, meaning Steve Kerr was fired after back-t0-back first round eliminations to the Houston Rockets. Yeah, that’ll probably do it. The Warriors also got an MVP season out of Kevin Durant. That’s some pretty solid momentum heading into the playoffs.
The Warriors performed well in their first postseason under Ron Adams. They made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves before getting eliminated. It’s a step in the right direction, but still a massive disappointment considering the roster they put together.
2020-21
The Warriors continued building their tough young bench in the virtual summer of 2020 with the addition of Bismack Biyombo. Between Biyombo and Cauley-Stein, they should have all the rim protection and rebounding they need for a deep playoff run.
The Warriors even landed the No. 1 seed in 2021, with Ron Adams following up his first Coach of the Year performance with another one, and Kevin Durant won a second consecutive MVP award.
Despite the impressive individual achievements, shockingly, the Clippers took the Warriors out in round one. I don’t know how or why this is happening, but it’s happening.
2021-22
With Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson’s contracts expiring at the end of the season, 2021-22 was this version of the Warriors’ last hurrah barring an unexpected re-signing. At some point you’ve got to reset, and the Warriors were heading towards that point. This was the final run.
The Warriors brought in a very old Al Horford, and added a fully developed Alex Len to the frontcourt.
This was probably the Warriors’ most disappointing season yet. They only managed a 3-seed and fell to the Denver Nuggets in round one. Again.
Predictably, Durant and Thompson left in free agency, and for all intents and purposes, our work is done here. The Warriors walked away from the Curry-Thompson-Durant-Green era with zero NBA Finals appearances, let alone NBA Finals wins. Zero. NBA 2K17, you crazy.
