If you are any kind of a sports fan or journalist, you are going to
witness a game where either the winning team benefits from the
opposing team being hindered by injuries or the losing team
having its limitations because of them.
witness a game where either the winning team benefits from the
opposing team being hindered by injuries or the losing team
having its limitations because of them.
The storylines are written, it’s only a question of which side benefits
your team. You are on the winning side that has the reasonably
healthy team and the losing team has a couple of injuries. The
opposing team and/or its fans will grovel, “Well, if we had Player
X or Player Y, we would/could have won.” My favorite is when they
say, “Put an asterisk next to that win.” Statements like that are
pure speculative because it did not happen.
your team. You are on the winning side that has the reasonably
healthy team and the losing team has a couple of injuries. The
opposing team and/or its fans will grovel, “Well, if we had Player
X or Player Y, we would/could have won.” My favorite is when they
say, “Put an asterisk next to that win.” Statements like that are
pure speculative because it did not happen.
The winning team and/or its fans will say things like, “Injuries are
part of the game.” “It’s not our fault if your team had injuries,” etc.
part of the game.” “It’s not our fault if your team had injuries,” etc.
The most recent example but far from the only one in sports history
and will not be the last is the Toronto Raptors beating the Golden
State Warriors 4-2 in the NBA Finals. The title represented the first
in the Raptors’ 25 year history and derailed the Warriors bid at
being the first team to win three straight titles since the 2000-2002
Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State, however, made history by
becoming the first team to reach five consecutive finals since the
Boston Celtics from 1962-1966. The Warriors won three titles in
that span.
and will not be the last is the Toronto Raptors beating the Golden
State Warriors 4-2 in the NBA Finals. The title represented the first
in the Raptors’ 25 year history and derailed the Warriors bid at
being the first team to win three straight titles since the 2000-2002
Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State, however, made history by
becoming the first team to reach five consecutive finals since the
Boston Celtics from 1962-1966. The Warriors won three titles in
that span.
Before I go any further, I am among the Bay Area minority who is
not a Warriors fan so I was happy to see them lose. I am a San
Antonio Spurs fan. Though I respect what Golden State has
achieved and acknowledge its greatness, from my vantage point
a large segment of its organization and fanbase have become
insufferably arrogant. Especially those who discovered the NBA
in 2014. However, I have great respect for Warrior fans that date
back 20 years or more because they know the sport.
not a Warriors fan so I was happy to see them lose. I am a San
Antonio Spurs fan. Though I respect what Golden State has
achieved and acknowledge its greatness, from my vantage point
a large segment of its organization and fanbase have become
insufferably arrogant. Especially those who discovered the NBA
in 2014. However, I have great respect for Warrior fans that date
back 20 years or more because they know the sport.
In the process of losing to the Raptors, Golden State had Kevin
Durant return to the court after missing 33 days with a calf strain,
only to sustain a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 5. Klay
Thompson, who missed Game 3 because of a hamstring injury,
tore the ACL in his right knee in what proved to be the decisive
Game 6. Kevon Looney, though not a star on the same level as
Thompson and Durant but important nonetheless, sustained a
chest fracture but valiantly competed.
Durant return to the court after missing 33 days with a calf strain,
only to sustain a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 5. Klay
Thompson, who missed Game 3 because of a hamstring injury,
tore the ACL in his right knee in what proved to be the decisive
Game 6. Kevon Looney, though not a star on the same level as
Thompson and Durant but important nonetheless, sustained a
chest fracture but valiantly competed.
The injury flood for Golden State is a byproduct of playing five
straight NBA Finals, which amounted to 106 postseason games
in that span. Do the math, regular seasons are 82 games. The
attrition will be a factor at some point.
straight NBA Finals, which amounted to 106 postseason games
in that span. Do the math, regular seasons are 82 games. The
attrition will be a factor at some point.
So why do I bring up these injuries. Well, in the years Golden
State won titles (2015, 2017, 2018), they benefited from opposing
teams injuries. In 2015, New Orleans was without Jrue Holliday,
Memphis was minus Michael Conley, Houston was minus Patrick
Beverly and Cleveland was without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
In 2017, San Antonio was beating the Warriors from pillar to post
in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals until Zaza Pachulia
stuck his leg in Kawhi Leonard’s landing area of shooting a
3-pointer. The Spurs coughed up a 23-point lead and were swept
4-0. The Warriors beat Cleveland 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
State won titles (2015, 2017, 2018), they benefited from opposing
teams injuries. In 2015, New Orleans was without Jrue Holliday,
Memphis was minus Michael Conley, Houston was minus Patrick
Beverly and Cleveland was without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
In 2017, San Antonio was beating the Warriors from pillar to post
in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals until Zaza Pachulia
stuck his leg in Kawhi Leonard’s landing area of shooting a
3-pointer. The Spurs coughed up a 23-point lead and were swept
4-0. The Warriors beat Cleveland 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
In 2018, Houston went up 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals
before Chris Paul sustained a hamstring injury that kept him out
of the last two games. Golden State won the next two games and
swept Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
before Chris Paul sustained a hamstring injury that kept him out
of the last two games. Golden State won the next two games and
swept Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
Another thing I want to make perfectly clear is that I don’t believe
in asterisks. The Warriors shouldn’t apologize for their titles in
2015, 2016 and 2018. The Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn’t apologize
for their title in 2016. The Toronto Raptors shouldn’t apologize for
their title in 2019.
in asterisks. The Warriors shouldn’t apologize for their titles in
2015, 2016 and 2018. The Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn’t apologize
for their title in 2016. The Toronto Raptors shouldn’t apologize for
their title in 2019.
My biggest complaint is tell Warrior fans/media (some anyhow)
about them benefiting from injuries and it’s “how dare you!” Yet
those same fans are saying how they would have beaten the
Raptors if they were not injured. You can’t have it both ways.
about them benefiting from injuries and it’s “how dare you!” Yet
those same fans are saying how they would have beaten the
Raptors if they were not injured. You can’t have it both ways.
What bothers me the most about the asterisk theory is that it gets
used too many times out of convenience. Should the most recent
New England Patriots Super Bowl win have an asterisk because
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was injured? I
could point out countless other examples but in the interest of
space I won’t.
used too many times out of convenience. Should the most recent
New England Patriots Super Bowl win have an asterisk because
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was injured? I
could point out countless other examples but in the interest of
space I won’t.
In a perfect world, we want to see two teams playing at full strength
but the world is not perfect. I would love to drive down a perfectly
paved road with no rain or potholes but life does not work that way.
but the world is not perfect. I would love to drive down a perfectly
paved road with no rain or potholes but life does not work that way.
This is competitive sports. The team you are playing does not care
how injured your team is.
how injured your team is.
To those who taint wins, I say “kiss my asterisk.”
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