Worst case scenarios for Golden State Warriors – below 40 wins
On the dark side, things could go very wrong for the Golden State Warriors. Anything below 40 wins (which would land them even or worse than their total of 39 last season) should be deemed a failure. Missing the playoffs would be the ultimate letdown.
Injuries thrust rookies into the spotlight
Steve Kerr took a balanced approach to introduce Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to the NBA. They played limited minutes in the preseason and will likely continue to ride the bench for most of their rookie stints.
That is, so long as the rest of the roster remains healthy. Do not forget how a slew of injuries led to Jordan Poole being tossed into the frying pan early in his rookie season. While this may have helped his development in the long run it certainly did not help the Warriors win games.
If Moody and Kuminga earn their minutes in the spotlight by being better than we expected, so be it. But, if they end up playing extended minutes due to a decimated roster, things could get ugly in Golden State.
James Wiseman disappoints again
The Warriors played their best basketball last season once James Wiseman was out of the lineup. Because of this, their ceiling is not really determined by Wiseman’s production. Nonetheless, a disappointing sophomore stint from the lottery pick would hurt the franchise.
There is not much depth in the frontcourt to accommodate for another bad season from Wiseman. Kevon Looney is the only other ‘big’ and he stands below seven feet. For this reason, it is important Wiseman is a playable asset for the Dubs.
The worst case scenario here is Wiseman continues to feel out of place on offense and defense. There is not much time for awkward chemistry issues between the No. 3 overall pick and the rest of the roster.
Klay Thompson fails to find his rhythm
Just as Klay Thompson can lift the Golden State Warriors back into title contention, he can also send them back into purgatory. There is no scenario in which the Dubs succeed this season without Thompson playing like himself.
This worst case scenario means one of two things. Either Thompson returns to the floor but plays below expectations. Or, even worse, he suffers another setback in his recovery. Either one of these outcomes would mean doomsday for the Warriors.