The Golden State Warriors will need a few players to step up if they want to make a successful playoff run.
Although the Golden State Warriors have won 3 out of the last 4 ball games, their role players need to step up to keep the train rolling.
The Warriors lost their perennial All-Star, Klay Thompson, after he tore his Achilles prior to the season. Thompson is a career 42 percent 3-point shooter while managing to average 19.5 PPG. All while being a 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, and a member of the 2018-19 All-Defensive 1st team.
The importance of Klay Thompson is off the charts as the Warriors this season rank 19th in 3-point percentage. In the past 5 seasons to where Thompson has played, the Warriors finished 1st three times and 3rd twice in 3-point percentage. The Thompson effect is imperative and a much-missed team asset.
Stephen Curry has also been playing to his MVP standards averaging 28-5-6.5 shooting 43% from the field. To put that into perspective, Curry put up nearly identical numbers when achieving the 1st unanimous MVP in NBA history.
Curry is playing unbelievable but his teammates are slacking. Can Curry maintain these absurd numbers that can lead the Warriors to the postseason?
I think not.
Newly acquired Kelly Oubre Jr needs to step up on the offensive end. Last year for the Phoenix Suns, Kelly averaged nearly 19 PPG and 51 percent from the field. Throughout this short-sampled season, Oubre is averaging 10 PPG what shooting a whopping 17 percent from three. Oubre’s cold streak coming to an end would take some of the load off Curry.
If Oubre did not attempt a 3-pointer this season, the Warriors would be ranked 11th in 3-point percentage. Instead, they are ranked 21st. Although I don’t expect Oubre to be as effective on the court as Klay Thompson, he needs to take on his role and play it more efficiently.
Another player who needs to step up is a 7-year man, Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins averaged over 20 PPG four-time throughout his career. As of now, he is averaging 17PPG shooting his 2nd lowest FG percentage of his career. Wiggins needs to act as the second man up. Averaging 18 PPG on mediocre shooting percentages will not do the job. Wiggins’ strong suit is taking the ball to the rack, but he is playing soft and settling for jumpers.
Wiggins is playing unbelievably well on the defensive end due to his freak athletic build. Taking a massive jump on the offensive end would be extremely beneficial for the team.
In order for the Golden State Warriors to Maintain success, their key role players must take a jump in their careers and provide much-needed value.