We can all be excited about the 2017-18 NBA season tipping off this week, but the inevitability of another Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers looms over everything.

Charles Barkley summed it all up with what he has to do on TNT with a perfect quote in a Marc Stein-penned New York Times piece:

“The toughest thing for me is I have to get on TV and fake it for seven months that it’s not going to be the Warriors and Cavs in the finals again,” Barkley said. “Yes, it is.”

Yup, that’s exactly it. Although there will be highlights, drama and some teams hoping they’re at the start of putting together a Warriors-like dynasty, the end of this year feels set in stone.

So what’s the point? The Ringer’s Bill Simmons had a pretty good take in the same piece that might help you look at this season differently:

“I’d always rather watch an all-time team on a quest for true greatness over any other scenario. Can they win 75 games? Can they go 16-0 in the playoffs? What’s the ceiling for this team? I don’t think we’ve seen it yet.”

That’s a good angle — don’t worry about “superteams” and a lack of parity. Enjoy watching what the Warriors could do after practically sweeping the NBA playoffs and wonder if they can exceed it to be even greater than they were last season.