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Now what? - Golden State Warriors | Basketball initiates

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Now what? – Golden State Warriors | Basketball initiates

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For nearly a decade, the Golden State Warriors have been the darlings of the league. After three championships and five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, the Warriors fell off the horse. The injuries of their star players and the departure of Kevin Durant have left the franchise in despair. Now that they’ve picked up the pieces, they’re ready to be championship contenders again.

However, nothing in life is this easy, especially when so many other teams have improved and built up their own star power. With another brutal injury to Klay Thompson, an aging Stephen Curry, and a devastating injury to their precious rookie James Wiseman, the road back to greatness doesn’t look so golden after all.

The Curry show was in full force last season, as the two-time MVP dazzled fans with his game poised to clinch the top scorer title. The 33-year-old is ready to share the load with his teammates, but it could be a rough start for them as they try to shake off the rust as they battle in the busy Western Conference.

There are several key elements that need to be considered before the Warriors can become a championship-caliber team again.

Strengths

Everything the Warriors do rests on Curry, who has been spectacular again this season. The seven-time All-Star won his second scoring title this year in an epic duel with Bradley Beal. The first time he did so was in the 2015-16 season, when Golden State won a record 73 regular season games but failed in Game 7 of the Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. . This year has been quite different, as they finished 9th in the Western Conference with a 39-33 record.

A healthy curry is incredibly important, but a healthy Thompson is essential to their success. After missing two full seasons with two major injuries, his return to the field is everything for this team. At 100%, the Warriors have the best backcourt in the league, but it will take some time for Thompson to relax and overcome the mental and physical obstacles associated with his return to the game.

Draymond Green reminded everyone of his value and impact on the game. The former Defensive Player of the Year has shown that he is still arguably the best defenseman in the league, capable of holding multiple positions. His overtaking and his ability to open up guys have always been his greatest strengths. His impact might not be the same if he played for the Orlando Magic, but he’s perfect alongside Curry and Thompson.

Apart from their three main players, another person to keep in mind is head coach Steve Kerr. With the resignation of Rick Carlisle yesterday, Kerr now becomes the third longest titular head coach in the league behind Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra.

Even with an ever-changing roster, Kerr was able to guide this team to the Play-In tournament. They were able to end the regular season with the fifth best defensive rating in the league, and while much of the credit goes to Kerr and Green, Andrew Wiggins also deserves praise.

Known as a defensive handicap for most of his career, Wiggins has finally been proud of his defense this season. He always had the tools with his length and speed, but his energy and effort always seemed to be lacking. Whether or not Kerr and the staff challenged him before the season or not, the point is that he took a big step in this area which ultimately helped the team win many close matches. If he continues down this path until next season, it will go a long way in bringing them back into the mix.

Weaknesses

One of Golden State’s major weaknesses this year has been the rebound. They placed 22nd overall in the league and run last in the offensive variety of that category. It is not the result of a game of small ball or simply a lack of size in general. The Warriors were notorious for not boxing and being pushed around on the glass. Second chance opportunities for their opponents to score have often killed them in close matches. This is something that needs to be addressed both in free agency and with current roster players.

Another area of ​​weakness that can be addressed this offseason is the lack of veterans on the roster. Aside from their top four players, almost everyone on the list has three years or less of experience. The good news is that a lot of these guys seem to have some potential. Damion Lee, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall and Mychal Mulder all played plenty of minutes for the Warriors. Sharing the floor with Curry and Green will ultimately help them achieve their goal of becoming a key contributor to this team.

Turnovers were another issue for this team as they committed 15 per game during the regular season. Only four teams averaged more per game, but the Warriors often had to deal with new, young players who didn’t have the experience to cancel many of them. They also committed 21.6 fouls per game, which was the second most in the league behind the Washington Wizards. These are two areas that will need to be cleaned regardless of who is or is not on the floor.

Opportunities

The Warriors will be back in the lottery for next month’s NBA Draft, but they likely won’t have the first pick like they did a year ago. They should always be able to pick up talents that can help them right now, whether on the pitch or in a future deal. With Thompson and Wiseman still facilitating their return and their own impending free agents, it will be important for whoever chooses Golden State to be ready to contribute immediately.

The Warriors have just two free agency players hitting this summer, namely Kelly Oubre Jr and Kent Bazemore. Despite his roller coaster season, Oubre is looking for around $ 20 million a year, which the Warriors just can’t afford. He won’t be as needed this season, with Thompson eventually reclaiming his starting role. Golden State won’t have much to spend but they should be able to find what they’re looking for in free agency.

Only six players are on contract after next season, which could open the door for some of the young players if they carve out a role. Seven players are expected to have contracts expiring before next season. Curry is one of them, as his salary for next season is just under $ 46 million. The other six players have a combined salary of around $ 14 million. This will give Golden State some flexibility in terms of trading next season.

Threats

Obviously, the biggest threat to this franchise is another setback for Thompson or another injury for one of their other stars. The same can be said for every organization, but the way things have unfolded for this team over the past two years makes it even more critical. Curry is not getting any younger and although he has reaffirmed his desire to stay with the Warriors, he will be a free agent after next season. If the future looks cloudy, it might be in their best interests to explore other options.

Thompson will be 32 next season and his return will be closely watched in the league. As well as being a prolific shooter himself, he has a lot more to offer on the defensive end of the ball than Curry. Winning All-Defensive honors in the 2018-19 season, Thompson has always been an elite-level defenseman, especially on the perimeter. He uses his feet well to stay in front of his man while keeping his hand out of the danger zone against shrewd offensive players like James Harden and Trae Young.

While the away focus will be on his attacking play, the key to Golden State’s return to the forefront will depend on how he plays on the other side of the ball. Coming out of two devastating injuries, will he still be able to lock up players on the perimeter at his age? Only time will tell, but everyone in this organization will hold their breath whenever they are on the floor.

One thing Golden State has going for them is the culture they have created. The atmosphere between the players, the technical staff and the front office is good. Everyone seems to be on the same page and there is never any panic. The continuity and chemistry they have with each other can be used to their advantage over less titular teams.

The other thing that threatens their future is out of their hands. The Western Conference is bursting with talent. It’s nothing new, but the way they’re set up doesn’t bode well for Golden State. Playoff teams are filled with star young players, who will only get better with time.

Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, Zion Williamson, De’Aaron Fox, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. These are just a few names that reside in the Western Conference.

A return to glory would be a great story for this organization, but it will not be easy. Knowing how this band is wired, they wouldn’t want it any other way.

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