As yellow confetti fell from the rafters and TV cameras swarmed, Kevin Durant grabbed the charcoal cap emblazoned with his new title — champion — before embracing Stephen Curry.
In that moment, as a capacity crowd belted along to “We Are the Champions,” the Warriors had finally vindicated the 3-1 Finals lead they squandered last June. Nothing — not the chorus of critics, not the Herculean performances from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, not a lengthy hiatus from head coach Steve Kerr — could keep Golden State from winning its second NBA title in three years.