Warriors NBA Picks
The Golden State Warriors have been a near contender the past handful of years, and the hope in the Bay Area is that this is the season the team finally breaks through.
2014-15 Golden State Warriors
Western Conference
2013-14 Record: 51-31 (31-10 @ Home) .659
Odds to win Title: +2000
Odds to win Conference: +1000
Although the Warriors finished with 51 wins this past season, that number wasn’t enough to keep Mark Jackson on the sidelines as head coach. Now, Steve Kerr will be the lead man for Golden State, and his first year as a coach will likely feature ups and downs in the midst of a largely successful campaign.
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Warriors Key Losses
Jermaine O’Neal – Jermaine O’Neal was a serviceable backup for the Golden State Warriors last season. Although he hasn’t officially retired yet, and could conceivably return, his comeback to the ‘Dubs seems doubtful.
Steve Blake – The fact that jermain O’Neal and Steve Blake are the only guys to make this list says two things: The two players were vital participants off the bench (O’Neal more than Blake most the time), and this group was lucky not to have any monumental losses during the offseason.
Warriors Top Newcomers
Shaun Livingston – Shaun Livingston enjoyed a comeback season last year, and he’s hoping that momentum carries forward with the Warriors. The point guard (extra tall point guard, standing 6’7″) should be a reliable option that avoids mistakes, and while he won’t be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, the team won’t need him to play that role with the starting lineup as strong as it is.
Brandon Rush – Brandon Rush is hardly a big name at this stage in his career, but Warriors fans have enjoyed his talents before. If he can return to anything close to the 3-and-D presence he was in the past, he’ll be a contributor.
Warriors Top Players
Steph Curry – This is a talented roster, but there’s no doubt whose team it is. Steph Curry owns this city when it comes to basketball, and it starts with his three-point shooting. As one of the best shooters in NBA history, his excellent defense is an added plus. Look for Curry to be an All-Star once again this season.
Klay Thompson – Klay Thompson enters this season as half of the “Splash Brothers.” He and Steph Curry have become one of the best backcourts in the NBA, and while that’s a mention worth smiling about, he also has the pressure of being the guy who Gold State wouldn’t trade for Kevin Love.
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Andrew Bogut – A healthy Andrew Bogut could have made a big difference in the playoffs last season. But the time for reflection is over, and the time to improve is upon the Warriors.
Andre Iguodala – Andre Iguodala has always struggled being a superstar option on any roster, and that’s why the Golden State rotation has been perfect for this near-elite player. Not only is he playing behind guys like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (as it pertains to scoring options), but he can get out in transition and be effective on both sides of the floor.
David Lee – David Lee appears to be past his prime, but he’s still a great rebounder who can score in a multitude of ways. He’s often time a liability on defense, but that’s where having a healthy Andrew Bogut on the floor becomes even more important.
Warriors Strengths
Three-Point Shooting – This one is easy.
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The Golden State Warriors are an elite three-point shooting team, as Curry and Thompson as a duo made 774 shots from downtown last season alone. The scary part? That was with a Mark Jackson-led offense that often times looked stagnant. Now, under Steve Kerr, this offense will be motion-focused with more passing, opening up more opportunities for elite shooters.
Warriors Weaknesses
Frontcourt Depth – This has a lot to do with Bogut’s health — as well as the health of Lee. If both are healthy, this should be most a non-issue. However, if even one struggles with injuries throughout the year, a lack of frontcourt depth is going to be a problem, especially toward the end of the year.
Warriors 2014 Betting Prediction
The truth about the Warriors is that they should be marginally better this next season. Bogut is back and Shaun Livingston is in at the backup 1-spot, and simply put: Steve Kerr’s offense is going to create more opportunities for scorers such as Thomson and Curry.
The problem is: Kerr is a brand new head coach, and we simply don’t know what to expect.
Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns should be improved this season, pushing Golden State back a bit in the standings. There’s certainly a chance that everything clicks and the team makes it to the Western Conference Finals, but look for another season with 50 to 52 wins and a possible first- or second-round exit.
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