The Golden State Warriors should be the best team in the league. Here are five teams that could potentially give them trouble in the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors were an incredible Kyrie Irving three-pointer from capping off a 73 win season with a second consecutive NBA title.
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The Warriors were sent into the offseason with limited options.Even though their last two seasons saw a title and a record-setting season, Golden State had to do some re-evaluating. They basically had one shot at getting better and this shot was basically a no-look, full-court heave. Luckily, this is a team with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and bad heaves generally go in.
On July 4, they sunk it and landed Kevin Durant.
On paper, the Warriors will have the best team in the league. But the game isn’t played on paper. Last season, they had the best team as well, but the Cleveland Cavaliers’ determination and drive (mixed with a lot of Warriors’ misfortune) prevailed in seven games.
A lot can happen over the course of a season.
The biggest obstacle the Warriors’ will face is just getting in sync as a team. While the core of Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green are returning, they will also have two new starters, a revamped bench, and some young players looking to establish themselves in the NBA.
Injuries and bad luck can strike at any time. The Warriors will also struggle with remaining focused, a problem that plagued them last season. Golden State is both the hunter and the hunted. Every team in the league will mark their matchup with the Dubs on their calendar and go out and play like it’s the most important game of their season (and, for some teams, it will be).
Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA. Here are the Warriors’ five biggest threats in the Western Conference.
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