I forgot to include this in my blurb this morning, possibly due to the angst from which I scrambled to describe the Rockets’ three-guard sets. But the Durant injury, as you all know, is not an insignificant development. At the current timeline, he’ll be back prior to the postseason. At what level of effectiveness is anyone’s guess. This is not to say the Warriors are no longer the favorite to win the NBA championship. But teams like San Antonio and Houston are still very much alive.
This takes me back to the argument I’ve been making dating back to last season: sometimes, it suffices to “just be good enough.” Many argued this offseason that loading up on expensive signings was an exercise in futility in light of the seeming inevitability of Golden State’s ascension. The same futility was cited at the deadline in arguing against relinquishing future picks. I’ve maintained that aspiring to be #2 is a pretty good goal. After all, anything can happen to #1.
The odds are that Durant comes back in time, shakes off the rust, and the Warriors cruise to the Finals. But what if he’s not right? What if he can’t make it back? I’d hate to know the Rockets didn’t go all in when it was there for the taking, especially in a year when we have the league’s best offensive player. Last year proved that opportunity should not be taken for granted.
