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The Golden State Warriors Overview A little over a year ago, many had thought they'd seen the last of the Warriors dynasty. Despite playing to the level of his 2016 MVP season, Stephen Curry could not drag the 2021 Warriors past the play-in (ignobly being the first 7 seed to lose their playoff berth in the play-in in NBA history). After a significant overhaul of the Warriors bench, the team was vastly more competitive last season, racing out of the gate to an 18-2 start. Though the team stumbled with injuries, the Warriors rounded into shape as the playoffs began, bolstered by the much-awaited return of shooting guard Klay Thompson after two years medical absence. The playoffs saw the Warriors return to dominance, with excellent play not only from Curry, but from playoff neophytes Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. After defeating the Boston Celtics in 6 games, Stephen Curry was honored with his first Bill Russell Finals MVP award. Now, once again, the Golden State Warriors are NBA champions, a title they hope to defend in the upcoming season. The roster has been altered less than in the previous offseason, though the loss of role players Otto Porter Jr. and especially Gary Payton II will see the Warriors looking more to their younger drafted players and newcomer Donte DiVincenzo for production. Can the Warriors win back-to-back championships for the 2nd time in a decade? Let's take a look at their personnel and decide: Steve Kerr (Coach) Among the most decorated individuals in NBA history, Steve Kerr now possesses 9 championship rings (5 as a player, 4 as a coach). Kerr is the 3rd-longest tenured NBA coach currently serving, and has led the Warriors to a league-best 429-200 regular season record during his 9 years as head coach (made more impressive by the fact that the Warriors posted a league-worst record of 15-50 in the abbreviated 19-20 season). Stephen Curry (PG) Widely considered the greatest shooter to have yet lived, Stephen Curry is the foundation of the Warriors' considerable success over the past decade. His elite finishing, playmaking, and off-ball movement combined with his otherworldly shooting skill create a unique challenge for opposing defenses, one which they are often unable to meet. His defense has improved considerably since he entered the league, going from abysmal to slightly above-average (for a guard of his size). His 3pt% fell off somewhat during the 2022 regular season (to a "mere" 38% on 11.7 attempts/game), but rebounded in the playoffs, dispelling insinuations of decline. Look, he was going through a lot during the season, what with getting his degree and and his parents getting divorced, not to mention the drama surrounding his attainment of the all-time 3pt record. Warriors faithful are confident in the continued excellence of Curry, who entering his 14th NBA season appears to be aging like few others have before him. Klay Thompson (SG/SF) The other Splash brother, Klay's career was sidetracked for two years by devastating ACL and Achilles injuries. Many wondered whether he would even return last season, let alone return to his peak as an elite scorer and defender. While not quite back to his full 2019 abilities, Klay's return has been nothing short of a miracle of modern sports medicine. Klay looked uneven during his abridged 2022 season, but his shooting skill and physical health appear undiminished. There is hope that his continued treatment and physical therapy throughout the offseason will see him return once more to being among the best 3-and-D players in all of the NBA. He will likely see significant rest during the regular season (akin to other injury prone stars like Kawhi Leonard), but is poised to be a vital contributor to a contender. Draymond Green (PF/C) One of the most unique players in the NBA, Green is an elite defender and playmaker while being a negative scoring threat. His (in)famous "triple single" statlines belie his tremendous value as coordinator for both the offense and defense. He fits the Warriors, and the Warriors fit him, but it can be difficult to judge his value in the abstract, since much of his worth to the team lies in his chemistry with Curry, Thompson, and Poole (lmao). He is outspoken in the extreme, and rides a fine line in games between inspiring and exasperating. His recent altercation with teammate Jordan Poole has called into question his long term future with the Warriors, but in all likelihood his on-court performance will adjudicate the matter one way or the other. Andrew Wiggins (SF) Long considered a draft bust, Andrew "All-Star Starter" Wiggins has found a home with Golden State. League commentariat was initially aghast at the 2021 trade of D'Angelo Russell for Wiggins (and a 1st round pick), citing his anemic defense and bloated contract as the death knell of the Warrior's dynasty. Instead, Wiggins has revitalized the team, essentially being a superior version of Harrison Barnes (who, 2016 Finals performance aside, was a huge contributor to the winningest regular season team in NBA history). His defense, rebounding, and much-improved 3pt shooting have earned him a reputation as one of the most reliable members of the team, along with the moniker of "two-way Wiggs," an epithet which would surely have surprised Timberwolves fans a few years back. Kevon Looney (C) The most underrated of the Warriors starting 5, Kevon Looney is not anybody's idea of a physically dominant center. Originally a small forward at UCLA, in college Looney drew comparisons to Kevin Durant for his length and jump shooting ability. Multiple hip surgeries later, Looney has completely reinvented himself as a somewhat-undersized but incredibly savvy C (sadly, his jump shooting went with his hips). Fans affectionately say that while he may be half a step slow, he's two steps ahead mentally. His defense and rebounding were crucial to the Warriors success last season, regular and playoffs. In the offseason he signed a 3 year/$22.5 million contract with the Warriors, to mutual cheers. Though he looks 38, he is in fact only 26, and there is reasonable hope that his best basketball is yet to be played. Jordan Poole (PG/SG) Drafted 28th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, Jordan Poole was by some metrics the absolute worst player in the NBA his rookie season. Through hard work and the tutelage of the Warriors coaching/vets, Poole has emerged in the last two seasons as one of the most exciting young guards in the league. He plays with undeniable swagger, driving into the paint and shooting threes with a confidence and verve reminiscent of nothing so much as a young Steph Curry. When Curry was on limited minutes during the opening games of the 2022 playoffs, Poole stepped into his role without missing a beat, giving an offensive performance worthy of the great shooter himself. Statements by both Poole and the Warriors' front office suggest a large extension is imminent, and it will be well-earned. Poole is looking more and more like the future of the Warriors offense, a role few would have guessed his first year in the league. Jonathan Kuminga (PF) Drafted 7th overall* in 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga is a rare athletic talent, with incredible speed and leaping ability. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, JK decided to forgo college, instead being one of the first young prospects to sign directly with G-League Ignite. He has shown an early talent for drawing fouls, using his superior athletic abilities to force defenders to move or foul during his explosive drives to the basket. As his jump shooting continues to improve, JK will be a potent offensive threat off the bench for the Warriors this year, playing a role similar to that of Andre Iguadala in the early days of the Warriors dynasty. *This was the pick sent by Minnesota along with Wiggins, a trade which looks more favorable to the Warriors by the day. Moses Moody (SF) The 14th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Moody is the more "NBA ready" of the Warriors' two 2021 1st round picks. He is, in a word, polished. Poised, intelligent, but not lacking in confidence or aggression, Moody has already shown that he is playable in high-pressure NBA moments. His general all-around competency and lack of mental errors make him the perfect plug-and-play off the bench player in the Warrior's scheme, and he will likely see significant minutes this season. (Full disclosure, I was hoping the Warriors would pick him 7th overall in 2021. Getting him and Kuminga was incredible). James Wiseman (C) The 2nd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. If Moody's byword is "polished," Wiseman is the epitome of "potential." A 7'1" athletic freak with surprising jump shooting ability, Wiseman is the archetypical pick for talent. Pushed into a role too big for his experience in his rookie year, and sidelined by injuries last season, there are rumblings already among some Warriors fans to call him a bust. This is premature in my view, as centers often take a while to fully come into their own. He's still maturing, both physically and mentally, and will hopefully be a solid contributor behind Kevon Looney at C. The Warriors haven't had a real lob threat in years, so if nothing else he'll contribute some cool highlights this season. Andre Iguadala (SF) The second oldest player in all of the NBA, the one-time All-Star and Finals MVP now provides most of his value at practice and in the locker room, a veteran presence and carrier of team culture. While it would be unfair to directly compare him to Udonis Haslem (Iggy did play around 600 minutes last year, more than UD in the last 3 seasons) his on-court impact is minimal these days. Still, in those few minutes he does play he retains the defensive acumen and basketball IQ that made him beloved as a 6th man in the early days of the dynasty. Donte DiVincenzo (PG/SG) I'm going to be honest, I don't know a ton about this guy, I think he was a solid contributor off the bench on the Bucks? White Donte is a hilarious nickname, I'm hoping for another OPJ/GP2 random burst of competence from a new Warriors role player this year. From what little I've seen, his playmaking and 3pt shooting will fit right in with the Warriors' offensive schemes. The guy hustles on defense, so Kerr will like him. JaMychal Green (SF/PF) Green is a journeyman who gave the Warriors fits when he was at Denver, he'll likely take on much of the responsibilities of Nemanja Bjelica. 3pt shooting, defensive boards, and willingness to pass will decide whether Green sees consistent minutes with the Warriors this year. At 6'9" 230lbs., he adds much needed size to the Warriors bench. Other assorted rookies/deep bench guys: Patrick Baldwin Jr., Anthony Lamb, Ryan Rollins (guy looks like someone was cloning Russell Westbrook but took him out of the tank a bit too early) Pat Spencer (Google this guy, see if you can guess what NCAA sport he was a beast in before switching to basketball) Outlook: This is a team with Championship expectations. The Warriors are bringing back all of their stars, and everyone is healthy at the start of the season for the first time in 3 years. The starting line up of Curry/Thompson/Wiggins/Green/Looney is among the most experienced and skilled in the entire league, and the bench looks to be, at the very least, as deep as last year. With an exiting batch of young players developing alongside their veteran core, the Warriors look poised to be a playoff threat for the next several years. DJ_Mindboggler fucked around with this message at 22:54 on Oct 14, 2022 |
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Oct 14, 2022 22:27
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R.D. Mangles posted:wait, northwestern basketball legend Mr. LaCrosse pat Spencer actually made it to the fringes of the NBA?????? I was so confused as to what this stocky white guy was doing during the preseason games, but he actually looked okay, even had a sick dunk. Could end up being the 14th/15th man.
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Oct 14, 2022 22:48
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R.D. Mangles posted:The one thing about Pat is that he's a crazy athlete and can get up. Dude just showed up to play DI basketball* as a grad student without playing competitively since high school and was actually decent. Oh yeah, that came across harsher than I meant it. I was thoroughly impressed after reading his biography, he just has a very unusual physique for basketball.
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Oct 15, 2022 02:35
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