Reason the Warriors aren’t a true contender: Experienced size
One of the Golden State Warriors’ key weaknesses is their frontcourt. It’s not necessarily that Kevon Looney and James Wiseman will never be serviceable big men, but at this point in their careers, they aren’t producing as much as is needed.
While Looney will never be an elite scoring option, leaving your only other option as a rookie that played three collegiate games is not ideal.
Wiseman has performed well offensively, averaging 11.4 points per game. However, his defensive rating is over 110, and he has the second-worst rating of players on Golden State’s team that average over 20 minutes, in front of Kelly Oubre Jr.
Wiseman averages 5.4 fouls per 36 minutes which is where the Warriors get killed. That said, the Warriors were able to get by before because of elite death lineups that allowed Durant or Green to play the five.
With a more traditional big in Wiseman and more of a rebounder in Looney, the Warriors just haven’t gotten the help front their frontcourt that the team has needed.