Biggest Questions Surrounding the Golden State Warriors in 2013-14
By John Kim
1. How healthy is Andrew Bogut?
May 10, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) reacts after a play against the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter of game three of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Bogut played in 32 games during the regular season. He was unable to get completely comfortable on either end of the floor and had his lowest averages since his rookie year. With Ezeli out until at least December, Bogut is expected to be a major contributor.
With O’Neal as the backup center to at least begin the season, Bogut is going to have to play significant, meaningful minutes to keep the Warriors competitive at the center position.
As the highest paid Warrior next season, Bogut was a significant reason Golden State was not able to bring back Landry or Jack. He has to earn his salary by being the mainstay of a Warriors defense that is expected to be one of the league’s elite.
Bogut’s offensive abilities have deteriorated as a result of his diminishing health. He shot a paltry .500 from the free-throw line and had a 45.1 field goal percentage. Teams have implemented a hack-a-Bogut strategy that has worked wonders against Golden State.
In 2013-14, Bogut needs to prove that he can regain his shooting touch. Otherwise, the Warriors will be an undersized team without the cornerstone of their defense.