2018-19 NBA Season Preview: Golden State Warriors

Warriors are top contenders to win the title in the upcoming season, on their way to a three-peat.
Warriors are top contenders to win the title in the upcoming season, on their way to a three-peat.

The Golden State Warriors have cemented their dynasty in the NBA history books by winning 3 NBA Championships in the last 4 seasons. The throne is theirs and they are certainly the team to beat in this upcoming season as well. With the second consecutive title beating the Cavs, they had won the 4-year-long Cavs-Warriors rivalry 3-1 comprehensively.

The sublime 4-0 sweep in the NBA Finals to eliminate LeBron James & his Cavs proved to be the last nail in the coffin for LeBron in the East and the Cavaliers collectively.

LeBron left the Cavaliers to join the LA Lakers in a blockbuster move, and the Warriors front-office couldn't care less. They had all the pieces of the puzzle committed to their services for the foreseeable future and were expected to be in a somewhat tranquil after-party mode throughout the summer. But apparently, that's not what happened entirely.

Let's take a look at how they shape up as a team for the 2018-19 season:


Offseason Activity

Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early in 2017-18.
DeMarcus Cousins signed a one-year, $5.3 million contract.

When a franchise has just won their 2nd consecutive title, people don't expect reinforcements for the next season. And to still land one of the best big men there is in the league, is just setting the bar for the other teams way too higher.

DeMarcus Cousins signed a one-year/$5.3 million with the Warriors on the 3rd of July, and the NBA universe gasped in unison. This was easily the second most captivating signing of the summer after LeBron joining LA, mainly because it involved the team which is at the center of NBA basketball right now and the man who is capable of doing everything all by himself.

In retrospect, everything else other than this blockbuster move seems like formalities. Kevin Durant re-signed with the Champs as he had previously mentioned on a lot of occasions, and as expected Steve Kerr got his contract extended. Also, David West announced his retirement after spending 15 seasons in the NBA including 2 championship seasons with the Warriors, which was preceded by the signing of Jonas Jerebko in July.

Broadly stated, it was a win-win summer for a team that has already won 3 NBA Championships in the past 4 years.

Squad Weaknesses

The Warriors’ imbalanced roster has left them vulnerable at times.
The Warriors’ imbalanced roster has left them vulnerable at times.

Despite their abundance of talent, or maybe because of it, the Warriors seem prone to self-inflicted wounds. Last season, was not the usual easy-sailing for the defending Champs. In fact, during the course of the season, many believed the Houston Rockets had an edge over the Dubs and that finally, the Western Conference has caught up to the invincible force that Golden State is.

But the team willed through the struggles of the regular season, and lifted another title, much to the dismay of the audience that expected a new NBA force to rise. But alas, the Warriors spirit and resilience came on top.

But on the negative side of things, the Warriors’ trouble with turnovers is no new issue. Also, though they are one of the best in the 4th quarters in come-from-behind wins, there seems to exist a Warriors’ plague of costly overaggression in the dying minutes. Then there are the fouls. Draymond Green, the team's emotional leader, frequently gets technical fouls and specifically last season, Kevin Durant joined him in that party as well recording multiple ejections.

Another Achilles heel was exposed when the bench came to spotlight. Andre Iguodala was sidelined and Patrick McCaw had suffered an awkward fall, eliminating him as well. With Curry and Durant in and out due to injuries, players like the inconsistent Nick Young and inexperienced Jordan Bell had to slog through forgettable stretches during games.

Team Strengths

Curry and Durant both averaged 26.4 points per game in the 2017-18 regular season.
Curry and Durant both averaged 26.4 points per game in the 2017-18 regular season.

"They already have four All-stars in their starting lineup." And yes, they added another this summer.

The Warriors' star-studded talent pool has been recognized on several occasions, and every team that they play against has had a fair idea of what they are capable of doing, at some point in time. If one of the stars gets injured, they always have enough firepower left to give their fallen soldiers enough breathing space to get back on track.

Among all the "contenders", GSW has been proven to be the most selfless team there is. And also, unlike all the other teams, Warriors have multiple game-winners who can burst open on unexpected nights and lead the charge. The opposition cannot just lockdown Durant & Stephen Curry and expect to dominate the Champs.

Klay Thompson scored 37 points in a single quarter once. Draymond recorded a triple-double of rebounds, assists and steals in the 2016-17 season, scoring just 4 points. When 100% fit, Iggy is one of the best to come off the bench. So, we're pretty clear on the fact that Golden State is not just Curry & KD.

Opportunities and Threats

Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early in 2017-18.
Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early in 2017-18.

Cousins is working his way back from an Achilles tendon tear, which he suffered back in January playing against the Rockets as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. The signing with the Warriors might have boosted his resurgence and he's already back to dunking. Ever since suffering the non-contact injury, the timeline for Cousins has been set at this coming winter. But Boogie doesn't think so, as he believes he can be back in time for training camp.

Stephen Curry suffered Grade 2 MCL sprain to his left knee during the last season and missed the first round of the playoffs. Stephen Curry's injury and the Golden State Warriors' sloppy play had some teams believing they were more vulnerable than ever.

Iguodala started 12 of Golden State's first 13 postseason games, but missed the last four games of the Western Conference finals after suffering a left lateral leg contusion. With a rash of injuries and steadily increasing competition in the league, the Warriors' path to the Finals is not expected to get any easier than it was before.

Predictions for the Upcoming Season

By all means, the Warriors are equipped to win their 4th title.
By all means, the Warriors are equipped to win their 4th title.

Last season was a testimony to the will and resilience of the Warriors squad, which held true to its name. They did not skim through the usual dominating runs during the regular season, were constantly struggling with injuries to their star players and had another intimidating contender led by an MVP rising in their neighborhood.

Despite all that, they could salvage a good-enough staging to outrun the ever-so-competitive Western Conference and ultimately, decimate LeBron's ill-equipped Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals on their way to a 4-0 sweep.

The 2017-18 season proved that the Warriors are not invincible. They do have intramural flaws within their superteam roster, which tends to tremor when its pillars take a beating. But what it also proved was that they can never be counted out.

In my prediction, if Cousins comes back by the halfway mark of the regular season, the Golden State Warriors have a solid chance of three-peating in the next season. Even if Boogie is taken out of the equation, there is no fathomable reason insight which makes me believe they would not win the Championship again in the 2018-19 season.

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Edited by Yash Matange