San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Warriors still No. 1 in NBA influence
It’s dark inside the NBA offices at the approach of dawn, and it’s just as dark when the lights come on. A disappointing season has taken an inconceivable turn, and commissioner Adam Silver is not hesitant to tell the public that if the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate, the season could be called off entirely.
For now, with a 30-day hiatus just beginning, there can only be hope. League officials are closely monitoring the situation in China, where the Chinese Basketball Association suspended operations Feb. 1 and is considering the possibility of resumption on April 1. For NBA players hoping to play on Olympic teams, it’s time to address more immediate concerns.
If for nothing but the sake of respite, basketball conversations continue. The Warriors need to keep alive their intention of blending Stephen Curry into their ever-changing world and make some final evaluations on youthful candidates for next season’s roster. For those of us taking a step back, trying to put things in perspective, it’s remarkable how Golden State’s fortunes have shaped the season.
Television ratings plummeted from the very start. Silver and his staff pondered the notion of an in-season tournament to bolster fans’ interest in coming years. There was talk of giving the ninth- and 10th-ranked teams in the standings — and thus out of the playoffs — a chance to qualify. Any old gimmick would be worth a study.
The Warriors, without question, had a lot to do with all this.
From the moment they won the 2014-15 championship, in a flurry of 3-pointers, Curry magnificence and unbridled exuberance, they became the talk of the league. Bandwagons filled to capacity, and as the ensuing season made it clear we were watching a historically great team, the so-called “haters” mobilized forces, as well.
The television networks filled many slots with Warriors games. The playoffs were a must-see affair. Then Kevin Durant came on board, infuriating his former team (Oklahoma City) and everyone who felt he was taking a cushy route to glory. Now the Warriors knew how it felt to be the New York Yankees, New England Patriots or any other sports dynasty with a polarizing nature.
It was wonderful to be us, savoring those memorable scenes in Oakland — and absolutely fabulous for the league.
No one could have foreseen the Warriors’ unraveling. On a given night, you might be watching Ky Bowman, Jordan Poole, Willie CauleyStein, Eric Paschall and Glenn Robinson III in the starting lineup. The dynasty was gone, all of it. The sparkling new Chase Center hosted only mildly enthusiastic audiences, and every homecourt victory was cause for celebration. Golden State became the last team any network wanted to show.
What would revive the public’s interest? As the league shut its doors on Wednesday, that remained an unanswered question. The list of championship contenders has dwindled to three, and two of them play in Los Angeles. People are growing tired of the 3-point revolution, realizing it isn’t all that compelling unless someone like Curry or Damian Lillard is on display. The obsession with replay has caused inexcusable delays. Players use the “load management” excuse to sit out games when they are perfectly healthy. Overly sensitive officials are calling technicals for “taunting” when the player in question merely shot a glance.
If the playoffs actually take place, they will be terrific, for that is always the case. As for next season, much of it will be in the Warriors’ hands. Curry will once again be the face of pure entertainment. Draymond Green will be a time-tested villain. An endearing theme awaits as the old gang gets back together. The networks will return, as will the real crowds at home. And we will realize, once again, that the epicenter of NBA influence is right here in the Bay Area.
Around the NBA
Durant’s name came conspicuously to the surface when the Brooklyn Nets fired coach Kenny Atkinson. The move seemed bizarre at first, Atkinson having proved his worth by blending some rather nondescript types — Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen — into a dangerous, playoff-bound team with Kyrie Irving mostly sidelined by injury.
General manager Sean Marks described it as a mutual agreement between Atkinson and the club, prompting a skeptical response among the New York media. We may never know exactly what took place, but multiple reports say that Durant and Irving had soured on the idea of Atkinson coaching next year’s team, and that Atkinson wasn’t thrilled about the prospect, either. Among the list of rumored candidates: former Warriors coach Mark Jackson, with Atkinson perhaps destined to coach the Knicks.
A number of insiders have Giannis Antetokounmpo as a runaway winner of the MVP award, scoffing at the notion of LeBron James entering the picture. Perhaps they weren’t watching closely enough. Giannis deserves everything he gets, but James is a more complete scorer, a better passer and a proven winner showing off his championship credentials once again. He should be right in the picture. And it’s a real shame the postseason doesn’t figure into the voting.
About those ex-Warriors: It was difficult to gauge the status of Chris Boucher and Patrick McCaw on Toronto’s recent visit to San Francisco, each man playing near-invisible minutes, but they are undeniably part of the defending champions’ rotation . ... Damian Jones, averaging 16 minutes per game in Atlanta (27 starts), did not play in seven of the last 11 games and was not listed on injury reports . ... Alfonzo McKinnie found a home on the Cleveland bench and hasn’t made much impact, but he had a 15-point game against Detroit Jan. 27 . ... Jordan Bell, who went from Minnesota to Houston to Memphis over a two-day period, is looking for a team after being waived by the Grizzlies . ... Quinn Cook is a marginal figure with the Lakers, averaging 10.8 minutes and 4.8 points, but he’s in L.A., mixing it up with the celebrities, and might find himself in the Finals. That’s the good life.