The consensus opinion on the Golden State Warriors this season is that they will, at best, make the playoffs and possibly win one round there, but that their days of being very competitive are over.
According to the doubters, Draymond Green is no longer an impact player, six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler is too long in the tooth and future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry is in slow decline at the age of 37.
However, analyst Jason Timpf feels the Warriors could be about to embark on a successful season. In particular, he said that Curry is about to deliver some vintage-level play.
"I think Steph is going to be awesome to start this year-like awesome, awesome," Timpf said. "28, 27 points per game. Mid-60s true shooting. Regardless of whatever flaw roster might have, this is the best team he's had in years. … Whatever the potential ceiling for this group is, Steph's going to try like hell to find it. I think we're going to get a bought-in, engaged, awesome version of Steph to start the year. I wouldn't be surprised if, 25 games into the season, he's legitimately in First-Team All-NBA consideration."
There are certainly reasons to believe that Timpf’s prediction will come true and that the Warriors will do better than expected this season. For one thing, Curry, after looking a little tired during the first half of last season, was mostly awesome afterward. He averaged 26.7 points a game on 47.6% overall shooting and 41% from 3-point range after the All-Star break, and he seemed revitalized by Butler’s arrival in February.
Once Butler made his Warriors debut, the team went 23-8 the rest of the way. It could be argued that had it not been for Curry’s hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Warriors would’ve been playing for an NBA Finals berth in the next round.
Other than Curry and Butler, the biggest thing the Warriors have going for them is their depth. Forward Jonathan Kuminga is back after his summer-long contract extension saga, and between Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, they have lots of depth in the backcourt. This should allow coach Steve Kerr to keep the workload of his three stalwarts - Curry, Butler and Green - manageable throughout the season and keep them fresh for the playoffs.
In addition, Al Horford should give Golden State shot-blocking, rebounding, outside shooting and resourcefulness at the center position, a position the team was weak at last season.
Golden State may not win its fifth NBA championship of the Curry era, but it seems to have the ingredients it needs to pleasantly surprise a large number of pundits.
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