Stop comparing the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors

The 2016-17 Golden State Warriors are just like the 2010-14 Miami Heat? Think again.

Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals is upon us. And with the Cleveland Cavaliers down 3-0 to the Golden State Warriors, one would think tonight’s matchup would be at the forefront of most basketball fans’ minds.

But instead, mostly thanks to NBA Twitter, here we are focusing on every other narrative.

For example, perhaps it is Khloe Kardashian’s fault that Tristan Thompson has only averaged 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists a contest over the last three meetings with the Warriors. Even though Thompson happened to only average 3.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game in the 2016 playoffs against the Detroit Pistons.

You now, before the two ever got together.

Just saying.

Then, there is the played out debate of whether or not LeBron James could really dethrone Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. Or better yet, who would win one-on-one. Like James could go back in time and square up against Jordan. Or Jordan could revert back to his prime, today, and face James.

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Next there is talk of if Draymond Green had not been suspended last year, the Warriors would have won. Because that is certainly a discussion worth having. Could have. Would have. Should have.

However, the best yet are the comparisons between this Golden State squad and the 2010-14 Miami Heat.

To jog your memory, it was in the summer of 2010 that James and Chris Bosh decided to join Dwyane Wade in South Beach; thus forming the Big Three. The trio received hate from all over the league, the Heat then being labeled a super team, many claiming such moves were bad for the NBA.

(Of course, when Miami failed to earn a title in 2011, suddenly the union was more tolerable. But that is a topic for another day.)

All of this ring a bell yet? It should. Because the Warriors are facing much of the same criticism today.

After Kevin Durant announced his decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder behind and head to the Bay Area, basketball fans around the world were left in shock. And not just on Russell Westbrook’s behalf either. Golden State had just eliminated Oklahoma City from championship contention. He was joining forces with the enemy.

Which is why trying to draw parallels between the Heat and Warriors already makes no sense.

But here is where things get even more illogical. Durant signed to a team that finished 2015-16 going 73-9. That at one point had a 3-1 lead over the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals. Miami finished 2009-10 at 47-35. And were eliminated 4-1 in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

Apples and oranges, my friends.

The Heat needed help when James and Bosh arrived. Golden State? Not so much.

"“I don’t think our careers are the same as far as changing teams,” James explained regarding trying to compare his situation to Durant’s. “Their team was already kind of put together, and you just implemented a guy that’s ready to sacrifice, a great talent, a guy that’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. But that team, they knew what they were about, and he just had to come in and just do what he had to do and that’s what he’s been doing. For me, when I left [Cleveland] to go to Miami, we had to build something. We brought in eight or nine guys, and we had to build something, and when I came back here we had to build something again.”"

Preach.

Look, in the end, the Big Three did become unstoppable. Much like the Warriors are now. But reaching that point took time. It was about more than adding two studs. A new system had to be put in place. A supporting cast had to be found.

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So enough with this storyline. Find something new to talk about. Like it being do or die for Cleveland tonight. Game 4, here goes nothing.

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