There once was a time, not long ago in the NBA, where the Golden State Warriors went from being nobodies, to becoming the hottest team in the land. Led by the likes of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and for some time Kevin Durant, there was no stopping the Warriors, unless you were LeBron James of course. As many sports betting news outlets recall, the epic battles between Curry and James for league supremacy were reminiscent of those between Bird and Magic in the 80’s or Jordan against the world in the 90’s.
While the past couple of seasons have taken their toll on the Warriors, especially from an injury point of view, Golden State appears to be back in full form and ready to put the Western Conference on notice. But is it too soon to start believing the hype around the Warriors? Here are three reasons as to why believing Golden State’s walk and talk can be justified.
Klay Thompson Is Back And He Wants Revenge
While everyone has always given props to Steph Curry for what he has done for the Golden State Warriors, he has never been shy to state the fact that none of it would’ve been possible if not for having Klay Thompson as the team’s premier shooting guard playing next to him. Yes, of course, Draymond Green’s defensive prowesses also count greatly, but we’ll get to him later on, for now let’s focus on Thompson. After suffering two devastating injuries that cost him not being able to play for the Warriors in the past two seasons, Thompson is back, he’s healthy and he is already showing everyone around the league that he wants revenge for all the time he missed.
Steph Curry is a world-class talent, one of the best to ever play the game of basketball, but it’s no secret that his best basketball has always come when his “splash brother” Klay Thompson has been around to play as the perfect tag-team partner, especially when shooting from behind the three-point line. Thompson’s ability to move laterally is something that not all top shooting guards in the league have and if you add to that the fact that the man sometimes plays like he doesn’t know how to miss a shot, he will definitely be the guiding light behind any and all successes that Golden State achieve this season, as long of course as he can stay healthy.
A Strong Warriors Team Can Take Down Anybody In The West
If you take a look at all the rosters around the Western Conference, you’ll see that there are some very strong teams around, but none can really ring a competitive bell to what a healthy, strong and in synch Warriors team can deliver. Yes, the Lakers have LeBron, Westbrook, Carmelo, Anthony Davis and more and the Suns are looking to not make last season’s finals appearance be a one-time deal. The Clippers are looking to emulate the basketball they played last season, but trying to finally cement their status as NBA finals candidates and the Jazz and Nuggets are solid, team-first mentality teams, but when push comes to shove, nobody can stop a Warrior team playing at its best.
The main factor that puts the Warriors over the top is the fact that unlike all the other teams that are struggling to find the best competitive winning nature and title contending culture amongst themselves, Golden State already has it. Yes, they’ve been through the wringer the past couple of seasons, but the culture is still there, the hunger is still there and the potential is very much still alive for the Warriors. If they can stay healthy and focused, beating the Warriors in the Western Conference will be a bone nobody will want to pick.
Leave The Offense To Curry and Thompson, Green Will Man The Defense
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson could easily score buckets upon buckets against any team they face, they’re that good, and Steve Kerr’s playing systems almost always find ways to benefit their skillsets and scoring abilities from any part of the court. But, remember what they say, “offenses win games, defenses win championships” and in a conference that is stacked to the brim with offense-driven players that love to show up and drop 30 or more points on any given night, having a top defensive unit running the backcourt is essential for title aspirations. That’s where again, the Warriors come out on top, thanks to defensive monster Draymond Green.
Green might not have the height or body to size up with some of the NBA’s big men, but he makes it up with his basketball knowledge, on-the-court awareness, and overall excellent defensive skills. Not only is he a threat for any opposing offense, but he is also the kind of player that can rally his troops in a matter of seconds and make them turn into one of the league’s best defensive cores. Just like with Thompson and Curry on offense, if Green unleashes all of his defensive talents on the court, this team will be unstoppable.
