3 Challenges Golden State Warriors must overcome

Challenge: Stephen Curry’s occasional slumps

Even the undisputed greatest shooter in the history of basketball has his off nights. For Stephen Curry, a “cold” stretch is a string of games shooting just under 40 percent.

His career-worst season behind the 3-point line is 40.4 percent… and the worst overall field goal percentage of his hall of fame resume is 43.3. Both coming this year. And no, we do not count the five games he played in 2019-20. In fact, we don’t count anything from that season.

Curry’s off nights have always been a recipe for disaster in the Bay Area. However, in years past, the Dubs had more than enough firepower to compensate for their top gun shooting blanks.

This has not been the case recently. The Warriors are vulnerable when opponents can overwhelm Curry and no one on the roster is capable of demanding enough respect from the defense to deter this strategy from being implemented by the top defenses in the league.

Well, until Klay Thompson is back on the floor, at least.

Solution: Klay Thompson’s return

It feels cheap to say Thompson saves the Warriors from themselves but it is true.

Just about all of the Warriors’ problems will be solved by Thompson returning to form. While getting him back to his All-NBA status is a challenge in itself, it is one we all feel pretty confident betting on.

Thompson’s steady trigger from behind the 3-point line will keep the Warriors fighting in games they otherwise should not have a chance. And, his flamethrower status will push them well over the top in games when Curry is playing like his normal self.