Warriors win title with best version of themselves

The Golden State Warriors won their fifth NBA title on Monday night, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers by a 129-120 score at ORACLE Arena. After falling behind by eight points in the first quarter, Golden State roared back in the second, taking a 17-point lead at one juncture. While Cleveland closed to within three points in the second half, the Cavaliers were never able to get closer.

The result is a litany of storylines. Kevin Durant will no longer be lumped in with the likes of Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, George Gervin, Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley. After coming so close on a bevy of occasions with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant now has his championship, filling in the only remaining blank on his first-ballot Hall of Fame resume.

Stephen Curry now has a pair of MVP awards in the regular season, and a pair of championships to go with it. Curry, who struggled in the Finals last year and had his rough spot in Game 4 of this series, has quieted any and all doubters. Curry and Durant, who won the Finals MVP and deservedly so, led the charge against a Cleveland team that has three Hall of Famers.

Klay Thompson and Draymond Green also won their second titles in three years, doing so with a tremendous combination of defense and shooting. Green is the muscle and toughness of the group, while Thompson brings an undeniable combination of perimeter shooting and one-on-one defense unlike any other guard in the game.

Now the question becomes whether this team, perhaps the greatest squad ever assembled, can continue on its incredible path. A quick look at the cap situation tells us that although Durant and Curry are slated to be free agents, both will be coming back for the long haul. Green is signed for the next three years while Thompson is locked in for two more.

However, some of the important role players are seeing their contracts come to an end. Andre Iguodala, who played 34 minutes and scored a clutch 18 points in Game 5, is 33 years old and presumably looking for one more contract before hanging up the sneakers. Shaun Livingston is 31 and should have a market after being a valuable guard off the bench. If one or both goes elsewhere, it leaves a large hole for Golden State to fill.

While the Warriors will continue to hum along with the quartet of Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green, injuries and age happen. Having such a loaded bench has always been a wonderful insurance policy. It will be fascinating to see how the summer treats the newly-minted champs.

For now, the Warriors and their fans can rejoice. They are champions once again.