3 reasons to be excited for the Warriors’ season
The regular season is here and everyone is excited for the NBA season to begin, especially Golden State Warriors’ fans.
The Warriors will look to improve on their highest win total in 20 years and there is a lot to be excited about for the upcoming season. Barring major injuries, the Warriors should be a top-four seed in the West; three reasons why we should all be excited for the 2014-15 season are the emergence of Klay Thompson, a revamped offense and the return of Festus Ezeli.
The Emergence of Klay Thompson
Thompson raised his game to another level this offseason, excelling with the national team, alongside his fellow “Splash Brother”, Stephen Curry. Not only did Klay shoot the lights out, but Thompson also developed a confidence that Warriors’ and NBA fans have never seen before and it showed in the preseason. Thompson was second in the NBA in points in the preseason, shooting the ball with no conscience, driving to the hoop and drawing fouls. The results: he shot over 50 percent from the field and three-point range as well as getting to the line four times per game. Four times does not seem like much, but to shoot eight free throws in only 25 minutes of playing time is a huge improvement from last season, where he only got to the line twice per game. Not only is he great from beyond the arc, but his mid-range game may also be just as lethal. Add that to his lockdown defense on point guards and his continued evolution at the offensive end, and Thompson is on his way to becoming the best shooting guard in the game.
A Revamped Offense
Another reason for optimism this season is that the Warriors will be running an actual offense. No more isolation plays for players who are better suited for a motion offense. No more constant pick and roll plays that become predictable and easily defended. No more ignoring your big men that might be your best passers on your team or your small forward, who is dynamic in transition and driving to the hoop.
The Warriors are done with this offense thanks to the firing of Mark Jackson and hiring of Steve Kerr. Kerr will employ motion offense with aspects of the triangle offense where the Warriors will play inside-out. Instead of Curry making all the plays on offense, the Warriors will look to their big men, David Lee and Andrew Bogut, to distribute the basketball to open shooters and cutters. Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes should thrive in this offense because they will be constantly moving towards the hoop instead of waiting in the corner and shooting threes. These guys are better driving the hoop, finding open shooters or finishing at the rim.
Not only will the Warriors run an offense but also they will also run at every chance they get. Kerr wants this team to play like his Suns’ teams from the late 2000s when he was the General Manager. There is no reason why this team should walk the ball up the floor and let the opposing team get set on defense. Too many times last season, Curry or Thompson would have to take contested threes with the shot clock winding down because there was no ball movement. Look for the Warriors to run a fluid offense, creating more open shots and driving lanes for everyone involved.
Festus Ezeli
Andrew Bogut is a huge key to this season but if for any reason he gets hurt, the Warriors have a reliable backup, Festus Ezeli. Ezeli has not played since the 2013 postseason against the Spurs, suffering a knee injury that cost him the entire 2013-14 season. But now Ezeli is back in the fold and it appears that he has gotten better after a highly successful rookie season with the Warriors. He is known for his defense and his unbelievable energy but somehow, during his time off, he developed post moves and an offensive game. In his first game back, he scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in just 11 minutes. He looked strong in the post and completely healthy. There is no way he can replace Bogut’s skill and basketball acumen, but remember, he was the center of this team in 2012-13 when Bogut was hurt and filled in nicely in the latter stages of the season.
There are countless other things to be excited about this team including the improvement of the Warriors’ bench, the versatility of Iguodala, and the continued excellence of Stephen Curry, but the three mentioned above are the most important. This team not only has the potential of becoming a contender in the Western Conference but also if everything goes according to plan, this team may be celebrating in mid-June. The pieces are all in place for a great season and now, all the Warriors have to do is complete the puzzle.