As the Mavericks watch these NBA playoffs unfold, there are things to learn and study. Golden State winning the Western Conference isn't really one of them.
Becoming the first team to earn five straight trips to the NBA Finals since the Boston Celtics of the '60s (who ruled anything from a four-team to a seven-team East), these Warriors are true Warriors. And they just showed in a four-game sweep of Portland that, yes, they won before Kevin Durant and they can win after Kevin Durant.
While it's a dangerous journey to try to get inside the head of Durant, one has to figure if he was 90% gone this summer as a free agent, he's completely out the door now as the country debates whether or not the Warriors are a better team without him (Answer: For a short series, it's possible).