The Golden State Warriors are clearly not one of the main contenders for the Western Conference going into next season, but based on fan sentiment right now one might think they were on track to win 25 games.
They’re far from a juggernaut, but the Warriors are still a decent team on paper even if the ceiling of what they can accomplish is not incredibly high by any stretch. The team went 37-45 last season and were the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. The Dubs were ravaged by injuries throughout the season and were just holding on for dear life at the end.
Now, they’re running back largely the same roster except all of their veterans are a year older and they’re going to be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for much of the season. So what can realistically be expected from this group?
How many wins should be expected for the Warriors next season?
It’s worth remembering they still have Stephen Curry. Even on an average team, if Curry can stay healthy, or at least healthier than he did last season, he can probably raise a team’s floor to roughly .500.
That means the Warriors need him to play in at least 50 of the team’s games which seems reasonable. He played in 43 games last year but if they rest him wisely, the 38-year-old should be in that 50-60 game range.
The supporting cast also has to stay fairly healthy. If Kristaps Porzingis is healthier than he was last year and veterans like Draymond Green, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton can also stay on the court, that will give the Warriors a pretty solid floor.
Another big factor is whether the younger guys take a step forward. Does Brandin Podziemski’s game go to the next level and finally start to match the confidence he brings to the floor? How does Yaxel Lendeborg fare in his first NBA season? Can Will Richard build upon the promise he showed as a rookie?
There are just so many question marks with this team and not enough exclamation points, if any. With so much uncertainty, it feels like a 41-41 record feels entirely realistic and fitting for the Warriors. They are stuck in the middle right now, neither contending nor rebuilding. A .500 record encapsulates that perfectly.
Fans will despise it if it comes to pass, but that’s simply where the Warriors are right now for better or worse.
Add us as a preferred source on Google