Jeff Van Gundy is only stating the obvious.
It's a foregone conclusion that the Golden State Warriors hoist their third title in four seasons come next June, according to the opinionated ESPN broadcaster. In fact, nobody will come close to challenging them.
"The Warriors are going to win forever if everything stays the same," Van Gundy said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. " ... This season is over. We're going to play it out and the Warriors are going to win. The next year will be the same thing.
"2018 is a wrap, let's talk about 2019," Van Gundy continued. " ... Who's beating them four out of seven times? Just wake me up when something changes with their roster because it's over."
The Warriors effortlessly swept through the Western conference and suffered just one playoff loss in their championship run. They steamrolled the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the Finals as the addition of Kevin Durant elevated the Warriors to a full class above their rivals.
Golden State managed to keep its core together while adding additional pieces this summer, while Cleveland arguably got worse. Losing Kyrie Irving - one of two Cavaliers who could damage the Warriors along with LeBron James - in exchange for more depth in Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder is mostly a lateral move.
The potential silver-bullet solution for the Cavaliers would be to flip the 2018 first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets. That coveted selection could bring another star to the Cavaliers, but Van Gundy still sees the Warriors ahead in that scenario.
"I think (Cleveland) will end up playing the long game," Van Gundy said. "Listen, with the Warriors the way the Warriors are, unless you trade that pick for (another star), you're still not better than the Warriors."
