The 2014-15 season has been a fairytale season for the Golden State Warriors so far. En route to a 67-15 record, the Warriors broke multiple franchise and NBA records, and thoroughly dominated the league. Rookie coach Steve Kerr led his roster to an over-achieving season – one that no one ever saw coming.
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The team’s future is bright: the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Harrison Barnes are yet to hit their athletic prime. It’s safe to say that the team could even improve in the offseason, especially after spending a full season under coach Kerr’s tutelage.
However, all things considered, this season could actually be the Warriors’ best chance at a title. Just take a look at the Western Conference landscape. The Warriors may have finished with ten more wins than the second-seeded Houston Rockets, but on paper, the West is a formidable conference.
The San Antonio Spurs will always be a threat, and despite the inevitable retirement of the Big Three, superstar-on-the-rise Kawhi Leonard is already being groomed to be the next face of the franchise. The Oklahoma City Thunder may have missed out on the playoffs this season, but any team sporting the combination of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will always be a threat (plus, they added new faces during the trade deadline). The Houston Rockets will have cap space to add to their tandem of Dwight Howard and James Harden, while the Los Angeles Clippers have their own dynamic duo in Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks will always find a way to insert themselves into the conversation, and the New Orleans Pelicans might just be the big threat with the way Anthony Davis is improving.
And that’s not all – question marks loom over the future of the Portland Trail Blazers (will they keep their core of Wesley Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Robin Lopez – who are all upcoming free agents?) and the Utah Jazz (when will this young team realize their full potential?).
Apr 4, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
And to be honest, the West this season was decimated by injuries. All the playoff teams in the West missed key players at some stage of the season, and the Warriors were the healthiest (their biggest injury was to Andrew Bogut, who missed 12 games with a knee injury) of them all.
Even now, the Blazers (Wes Matthews, Arron Afflalo, Dorrell Wright), Rockets (Donatas Motiejunas, Patrick Beverley), and Pelicans (Jrue Holiday) all have key players injured or ruled questionable for the upcoming playoff games.
The only Warrior struggling with his health? David Lee.
April 2, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10, left) and guard Stephen Curry (30, right) celebrate during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 107-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Now, the injured Western Conference doesn’t diminish what the Warriors have managed to accomplish during the regular season. Their overall dominance and continued focus throughout all 82 games is a testament to the strength of their roster, the phenomenal coaching, and the continued support of a rabid fanbase.
Coach Kerr can be applauded for how he has managed his players’ minutes, but it would be ignorant to completely dismiss the notion that the Warriors haven’t been lucky this season.
San Antonio and (to a lesser extent) Memphis have been picked as the two teams who can give the Warriors the most trouble in a long playoff run. In fact, many analysts and experts are speaking as though the Warriors will have no problem putting away any other team – including whomever they may face from the East in the Finals.
Things might not be as easy next season. The Warriors’ luck with injuries might not be as great, and we might see the West get more competitive as the younger teams start to mature. History has taught us that success in the NBA can be short-lived.
This might be the Warriors’ best chance at a title, and they need to take full advantage.
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