Will the Golden State Warriors dynasty end with a bang or a whimper?

The Golden State Warriors dynasty could very well come to an end after this season, but will it end in unbridled glory or overwhelming failure?

As the old adage goes, “all good things must come to an end.” But in the world of sports, it’s clear that rule applies to extraordinarily historic dynasties as well — the Golden State Warriors included.

Despite still finishing the regular season with a 57-25 record atop the Western Conference, it’s clear that this isn’t the same dominant team that we’ve seen in the past. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still incredibly talented.

In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t believe that they are still the best team in the league. They are, by all accounts and measures, still the team to beat in the NBA.

At the same time, all signs point to this once commanding dynasty coming to an end before long, perhaps even after this season. One of the founding pieces of the legendary Warriors core — Klay Thompson — stands a very good chance of departing the team via free agency this offseason. Ditto for the team’s biggest free agent signing — and current team MVP — Kevin Durant whose 2019-20 destination has been a hot topic of debate for quite some time now.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the Warriors success will be finished. After all, they’ll still have the face of the original dynasty in Stephen Curry who, despite his recent struggles, is still a top-five player in the NBA.

But it’s clear that “seismic changes” are expected for the organization come July. Or at least that’s how ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski puts it.

"“Internally in Golden State, there’s a sense of let’s try to put aside what’s coming in July. We have a chance to do something very rare in sports, to three-peat. Let’s try to keep our focus there and win the title, then let July play out the way it’s going to. But I think the Warriors are bracing for possibly seismic change within that organization.”"

Evidently, one question still remains unanswered. If this truly is the end of the current incarnation of the Warriors dynasty, what will be its ultimate conclusion?

Will it be given the proper commemoration that it deserves — a fourth championship in five years befitting of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history? A three-peat would surely solidify the franchise’s place in NBA history up there with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers teams of the past.

Or will the dynasty simply fizzle out and become a relic of NBA’s past — an emblem of what once was and no longer is?

The fate of the dynasty still remains uncertain, but the Warriors do have the ability to control their own destiny. Golden State is currently entrenched in a battle with their longtime adversaries, the Houston Rockets, tied 2-2 in the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

By all measures, the Warriors are the more talented team. In a perfect world without upsets, one in which the better team came out on top every time, the Warriors would easily win this series. In fact, they’d likely remain unchallenged in their pursuit for their third consecutive NBA Championship.

More from Golden State Warriors

• Warriors unlikely to draft Anthony Edwards due to character concerns
• Warriors: September minicamp mimics NBA bubble
• Warriors: Eric Paschall named to NBA All-Rookie first team
• Warriors reportedly eyeing a wing in the 2020 NBA Draft
• Warriors: Is the team destined to trade its No. 2 overall draft pick?

But the Rockets have managed to frustrate the Warriors in ways other teams haven’t. Golden State has the star power, but Houston has the heart and the grit.

Now, the Rockets have of course been led by last season’s MVP James Harden, this isn’t to discount his contributions. That said, Harden’s immense talent alone wouldn’t be enough to carry Houston this far.

Role players and lower-tier starters such as the likes of P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon have been able to do the so-called “dirty work” and out-hustle the Warriors. So much so that the Rockets have even been able to overcome some less-than-inspiring play out of their star point guard Chris Paul.

Simply put, the Rockets seem to want it more.

This was further evidenced in the teams’ last meeting where the Rockets came out on top and secured a four-point victory Monday night. The Warriors were lax for most of the night before turning it on in the last five or so minutes. There was no sense of urgency until the last portion of the fourth quarter when the game was really on the line.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

Houston had that sense of urgency all night long and it showed.

Now, the Warriors may very well still emerge as the ultimate victors of this series — they simply have too much talent for the Rockets to overcome. But what happens after that? Even if they manage to get past the Denver Nuggets (or Portland Trail Blazers) in the Western Conference Finals, does this look like a team that’s ready to beat the Milwaukee Bucks at this very moment?

They have the talent, sure, but it’s hard to see this iteration of the Warriors standing a chance against Milwaukee. They’ve been out-rebounded, out-hustled, and frankly out-shot at many points throughout this series. Sure they’ve been bailed out by the stellar play of Durant who has arguably been the playoffs MVP to this point.

But if the Warriors want to make history and properly solidify their place among the greatest dynasties not only in NBA history but sports history, then something is going to need to change.

No one knows what the future holds for the Golden State Warriors organization this summer. The fates of Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant will likely remain a mystery until after the season is over. But if this truly is the last hoorah for this version of the legendary Warriors dynasty, one thing is for sure.

They must go out with a bang, not a whimper.