Golden State Warriors Season Preview

Golden State Warriors

2014 Record 67-15

2015 O/U 60.5

Who are their stars?

The defending champions are loaded in talent and depth, but at the end of the day this is the Steph Curry show. The guy who won MVP, a three point shooting title, and beat the other four players who made the NBA all first team in the playoffs was really an NBA finals MVP away from the best season ever. He finished in 2nd in that voting, but given the inner teammate in Curry he was proud to see his brother and teammate Andre Iguadala take the award. Curry with his handles, and his three point ability is a player we truly have never watched before. There is never a bad shot for Curry, and clutch playoff shots proved it doesn't matter who, what ,where, when and why, the undersized Curry leads the super sized NBA. When looking at the technical "big 3" in GS it is actually easy to pass on Iguadala, who didn't even start in the regular season before his incredible Finals run. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are next two most talented players on the team, and in both cases it is defense in which makes them valuable. As far as guards go, very little defend as well as Thompson. As far as shooters go, Thompson is only second to Curry on the team, and arguably one of the ten best shooters in the league, joining Curry on the list. Thompson has some inconsistency, but I put him right behind James Harden in the list of top shooting guards in the league. Thompson gets a lot of love as the Curry sidekick, but Green is the second most valuable player on the roster. That is because, whether it was Anthony Davis, or James Harden, Green is guarding MVP candidates of all positions, and he really did it as well as anyone can. Green has the shot to be the supreme 3-and-D stretch four. Essentially only him and Serge Ibaka can fill that role to their ability, and the rarity of his position puts him in the top tier player mold. Between the big 3 you see shooting AND defense, which is no shock as this team lead the league, in both offensive, and defensive efficiency.

Who are the glue guys?

Now time to praise Andre. Being an "Iggy" fan all the way back to his 76ers days, it was a joy to watch one of the best competitors in the NBA see his whole career pay off. From being a first round exit in Philly as well as Denver, to guarding Lebron James almost every possesion of the NBA finals was a grind, but it shows the work always pays off, and he was ready for the moment. Stopping James is impossible, but in the past two years Iguadala and Kawhi Leonard set the standard in how the containment job is done. Iggy can also run the offense from the bench, which is where his regular season value lies, but his do everything small forward size is a huge advantage. Iguadala does not start, and that is due to the upside of Harrison Barnes. Barnes, like Iggy, and Green, can defend multiple positions. In fact against the Cavaliers a lineup of Curry-Thompson-Iggy-Barnes-Green was reall the one that the team the title. Barnes is inconsistent, but when he is on he is everything that made him the #1 recruit coming out of high school. Shaun Livingston, another guy who can play multiple positions would usually be grouped as a rotational player, but his underrated abilities are too important, and do keep the team together. At 6'7" he can be the tall point guard, but it also gives them the flexibility of lineups, as he can play the 1-3 and guard most players at any position. Livingston, like the crew can defend well, and as far as depth goes this guy is the perfect fit for this team. As the core of the team is smaller, sleaker, positionless players, the last piece of the core, Andrew Bogut, adds the slow center, who is not playing any other position. Due to the flexibility, and small ball, he doesn't need major minutes, and that is huge because he has had major injury problems throughout his career. When healthy, he brings the same defense as a rim protector, and is not a mess on the other side of the floor. As mentioned, the small lineup is in, but moreso, versatility is in. The abilility to have Bogut matchup with bigger teams is extremely valuable.

Who are the rotational guys?

The depth, as mentioned puts this team right there with the best of the best. Leondro Barbosa is a great bench guard, and with him and Livingston you add to the positionless factor, as Barboas is a scoring guard, but thrives with ball handling. Mo Speights assumes the David Lee role as a bench big man who can just put 10 quick points on the board. It is nice when the team goes through lulls to know that the bench big or the bench guard can be the guys who get the team going, and these two fit that mold, and can always give all of their energy in their time due to limited minutes. Festus Ezeli is on watch because he is a free agent next year, but has had injury problems. Only suiting up for 114 /246 eligible games is not a sign of a guy getting a big contract, but at the same time the Warriors will give him a chance. With Bogut at 30, and never being the healthiest guy, it would be ideal for Ezeli to not only blossom into a full time backup, but if he could start to steal minutes, it would give them much higher hopes. Kevon Looney was drafted this year, and seems to be an Ezeli insurance plan, who should hardly play, but where this team goes, and shows they want to go at center in the future will be something to watch for a team with little flaws.

O/U wins? Where do they rank? How far do they go?

I am in that type that says until you do something for me to knock you off, I have to assume they are going to be just as strong. Bringing essentially the same team back for another go should be extremely fun as many other teams seem to be improved on paper. That said, the Warriors and their efficient and versatile style should be right there competing for the one seed. They seem to still have a chip on their shoulder and 60 seems closer to the floor than the ceiling here. Over is the play, and NBA champions is the goal. As mentioned in previous posts, the Thunder, Clippers, and Spurs, and even Houston bring more fire power than ever before, and the final four in the Western Conference has potenital to be the most exciting week of the century, and it really makes pickin a champion a pick based on luck. Who is healthy and who is hot, and what matchup you draw will decide who makes it out West, but until then the Champs are #1.

Over 60.5 wins, 1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the NBA