Golden State Warriors’ keys: Consistency from Wiggins and Oubre
As great as Stephen Curry is, the Golden State Warriors will only go as far as their supporting cast takes them. No one can do it all on their own. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins will need to be consistent release valves for Curry.
Curry already demands immense attention from opposing defenses. But, when no one else on the Warriors can make a shot – Curry deals with even more harassment than normal. Even the best shooter in the world will struggle under these circumstances.
As of late, Wiggins has been the one accepting increased responsibility. He’s reaching his peak as a defender, even sealing a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks with a late-game block on Jrue Holiday. Building on his recent shooting streak (46 percent over his last 10 games) and continuing to be a difference-maker on defense will be crucial for Wiggins.
Meanwhile, Oubre needs to remain aggressive. His consistent hustle has helped the Dubs squeak out a few wins lately. While he’s been in a rut shooting the 3-pointer (below 30 percent since late February) he has generally been able to space the floor successfully for Golden State when he’s feeling confident.
As we enter the home stretch of the season, the Warriors will be relying heavily on the two-way talents of both Oubre and Wiggins. It will take big performances from each of them to propel the Dubs back into the postseason.