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Golden State Warriors: Can the non-Kevin Durant Warriors replicate 2015?

By Nathan Beighle

SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 14: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 14, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 14: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 14, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors will go back to their 2014-2015 selves next season, led by the traditional Big 3. Can they make it back to the NBA Finals?

If you go by record, the 2014-2015 Golden State Warriors were the best team in NBA history; then they added Kevin Durant. They lost nine games. A mere nine losses in an 82 games season is an absolutely incredible feat for the team.

The title is a bit misleading. It’s not the Golden State Warriors were either lucky or good, but rather that Kevin Durant made them arguably the best team this generation and the NBA as a whole had ever seen.

But, were they a combination of both good and lucky before Durant? I tend to say no. You can’t win 73 games in a season and jump up to a 3-1 lead on the LeBron James and Kyrie Irving-led Cavaliers by being a lot of lucky and little big good.

However, the Warriors will return to their roots next season, a reason this topic is even brought up.

Stephen Curry, the league’s two-time MVP and only unanimous MVP, will captain the ship. Klay Thompson, a five-time All-Star and one of the league’s greatest two-way players, will be there to help as well.

Finally, Draymond Green, who has seen his numbers dip tremendously since that 2015-2016 season will anchor the Warriors defensively. So, what separates them between the best team from a few years ago in the world and one that isn’t even title favorites.

Well, first and foremost, the veteran presence of Andre Iguodala is a huge factor. He helped sure up the defense, and the 2015 Finals MVP helped slow down (although no one can truly slow down) LeBron James.

Second, the Western Conference is just better.

The NBA as a whole has multiple superteams, many of which have been crafted to solely beat Golden State. Look at Houston and both teams in Los Angeles. Those teams are crafted with two players and then role players to mold to their superstar’s strengths.

The LeBron James and Anthony Davis combo is better than any two-man combo in the league, and the Lakers will be a far more formidable foe than LeBron’s Cavaliers.

Next. Top 25 Golden State Warriors in franchise history. dark

That said, the Warriors could easily replicate the success they had in previous seasons, but it’s still unknown whether the same prolific players that took the court three years ago will once again dominate the West next year.

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