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5 questions that will determine if Warriors are title contenders

By Evan Quarnstrom

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 23, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 23, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

4. Can the bench provide?

Infamous for bleeding away leads during the minutes without Steph Curry, the Warriors bench unit has historically been a weak spot.

Yet this season, the bench has been a revelation and a key contributor to the team’s success. Offseason additions Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and Gary Payton II have anchored a strong bench unit that, during the first month of the season, had a plus/minus of +6.5.

The script had finally been flipped. The Warriors could thrive during the previously dreaded stretches when their starters rested.

However, during the current downturn, the lack of bench production has been a gaping hole that needs to be filled.

Over the past month, the bench is averaging 37.9 points per game on 44% shooting from the field, with an abysmal 27.6% from deep. The bench unit now is getting outscored by 2.3 points during their run, a flashback of the old days where leads would get squandered by the reserves.

Overall, Otto Porter has been the best of the bunch, and GPII has been an absolute menace on defense. Bjelica and Lee have perhaps taken the steepest dives, while rookie Jonathan Kuminga has shown glimpses of a star in the making. Jordan Poole, who will lead the second unit with Klay in the starting five,  has been all over the place in his bench minutes.

If the Dubs are to battle for a title this year, the bench will need to look more like it did during their hot start to the season than what they’ve been producing over the past month.

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