Barkley: Even with Durant, Warriors Still A Flawed Team

Charles Barkley didn’t want Kevin Durant to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Now that he’s there, he isn’t sure Durant changes things.

The Warriors are still a flawed team in Barkley’s mind.

“Can they rebound the ball? They’re going to still be shooting jumpers. They’re not going to get any low-post scoring. Can that type of play hold up through the rigors of the NBA playoffs? I’m still going to say the same thing I’ve always said: No.” Barkley said Tuesday.

Golden State won a record 73 games in the regular season. They blew a 3 – 1 lead, however, in the NBA Finals and lost to Cleveland. In the offseason, the Warriors signed Durant.

That move made the Warriors the favorites to reclaim the title they won in 2015. Barkley said Golden State was lucky then since their path was filled with teams impaired by injuries. Cleveland was already without Kevin Love in the Finals series and lost Kyrie Irving near the conclusion of Game 1.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were healthy last year, and Barkley picked them to defeat the Warriors.

During a lunch prior to TNT’s “Inside the NBA” studio team was elected to the Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Barkley said that the Warriors couldn’t play small ball and win a championship if every team they played was healthy. “I told you Cleveland was going to beat them and they did,” he added.

On Tuesday, Barkley and the team will host their show outside Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Cavaliers will receive their championship rings before facing New York in their season opener. In the nightcap of TNT’s doubleheader, the Warriors will play San Antonio.

Pissed at Durant

Barkley was upset that Durant left Oklahoma City for an easier chance at a title with the star-laden Warriors. Golden State already has two-time MVP Stephen Curry and fellow All-Stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Barkley said that if the Warriors win the title, it wouldn’t mean as much to Durant as it would have in Oklahoma. Durant had played in the city since the Thunder franchise moved from Seattle after his rookie season in 2008. Durant has been jeered in rival arenas since his decision. He has also infuriated some of his former fans with what seems to be disparagements of Russell Westbrook and his previous team.

“He made himself a villain by taking all these shots at Oklahoma City for no reason,” Barkley said. “He left, he’s happy, so shut up. When you’re taking shots at Russell and those guys, that’s not necessary

The post Barkley: Even with Durant, Warriors Still A Flawed Team appeared first on Newsline.