The Golden State Warriors will relish being the underdogs

For the first time since 2014, the Golden State Warriors finds themselves as the hunters and not the hunted as they pursue a fourth championship in six seasons.

Since the departure of Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors have been virtually left dead and buried by the majority of experts. Perhaps the most disrespectful thing is that some have even predicted the Dubs to miss the postseason.

That prediction is laughable considering the Dubs roster may well be better than last season. The Dubs have better depth than last season and have added solid complimentary shooters to alleviate the pressure on Steph Curry, especially while Klay Thompson is out.

Despite the losses of Durant, Andre Iguodala and other Warriors, Golden State still has a strong team and will be among the West’s best if D’Angelo Russell can seamlessly fit in.

Coach Steve Kerr always does his best to accommodate All-Stars as shown by KD, Boogie Cousins and Iguodala. Plus Steph is always willing to let teammates play their natural game, so the addition of Russell will create an interesting dynamic.

Teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers are favorites in the West and perhaps rightfully so, considering the Clippers blockbuster additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and that is fair.

Nonetheless, the Dubs are still one of the better teams in the West, as long as Curry is fit and firing, and when Thompson returns, Golden State will be a formidable foe, one that I doubt any team will be looking forward to facing.

According to SLAM, Curry himself is amused by the notion that the Dubs aren’t contenders.

"“I just laugh at it,” Curry said during his second annual Warriors All-Girls basketball camp in Oakland on Monday afternoon. “Anybody can say anything about anything nowadays and it can pick up steam. So we’ve had lots of support. We’ve had a lot of criticism on the way that doesn’t change now. Just what they’re saying is different so doesn’t change how we go about our business.”"

As Curry rightly pointed out, the Warriors are too driven and too focused to let outside focus drift into camp and have heaps of experience at their disposal with Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Willie Cauley-Stein and D’Angelo Russell on the roster. Plus they remain the only NBA team to have four All-Stars on their roster.

With the focus on the two Los Angeles teams and potentially the Denver Nuggets, Steve Kerr’s men will relish the role of the hunters and not the hunted and they shouldn’t be overlooked.