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Out of all the NBA teams, the Golden State Warriors may have the highest amount of anticipation surrounding them leading up to the 2020-21 NBA season. Due to their superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson being out with injuries this past season, the franchise had the worst record in the NBA. But many hope the return of these players will bring back the NBA Championship to the Bay Area. But what if the team isn't up to the task yet?
Here are five reasons why the Golden State Warriors may not win the NBA Championship next season with their current roster.
Why the Golden State Warriors might not be contenders for next season with their current roster
Before we go on, it must be mentioned that this list only caters to the Golden State Warriors' current roster. We will be avoiding the inclusion of any NBA trade rumors and assess the squad as it is right now.
#5 Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson may not be as good as previous seasons
There is little to no question that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will continue to be among the best in the NBA. But whether or not they can reach the heights they scaled during the 2018-19 NBA season is a legitimate question that needs to be asked.
Both players sustained major injuries that could impact their style of play on the court significantly. Thompson suffered a torn ACL, an injury that is known to be detrimental to a player's overall pace and agility. It could take some time for the 30-year-old to get back to his previous level.
The worst-case scenario here is that these Golden State Warriors stars never get back to their best - a reality that needs to be considered in the debate for the 2021 NBA Championship.
#4 Draymond Green's stagnation could prove fatal for the Golden State Warriors
When the Golden State Warriors brought in the small-ball lineup, a large part of its success was down to the brilliance Draymond Green. During that time, the now 30-year-old played as a center, grabbing rebounds and making incredible reads on offense. Green also managed to lock down some of the best in the NBA on defense. But it's starting to seem like replicating those nights is something that cannot be expected from him anymore.
The stagnation of his performances on both ends of the floor is worrying for the Golden State Warriors. Not only has Green come up short on the defensive end countless times, but he also seems almost incapable of contributing much of note on the offensive end.
With the team's so-called heart and soul starting to fade away, many are rightfully wondering what impact it could have on the Golden State Warriors.
#3 The Golden State Warriors do not have a reliable third option
While the Golden State Warriors have elite players in Curry and Thompson as their first two options, the team doesn't have a third option that they can rely on. Third options can come up big - especially in the NBA Playoffs - when the nucleus of the team's attack may be having an off night and is unable to score.
Currently, the Golden State Warriors' third star is Andrew Wiggins, a player that splits opinion among the fanbase and justifiably so. Wiggins has shown how good he can be sporadically, but he hasn't been anything close to consistent. While Wiggins isn't a bad player per se, he isn't good enough to step up and make meaningful contributions if Curry and Thompson fail to fire.
When it comes to being a third option on a championship-winning team, Andrew Wiggins isn't good enough to make the cut.
#2 The Golden State Warriors severely lack quality on the defensive end
A problem that has been apparent since the start of the 2019-20 NBA season is the lack of resilience on the Golden State Warriors' defensive end.
The departure of Andre Iguodala has severely hurt the team's quality on defense. This, coupled with Draymond Green showing signs of regression and Klay Thompson unlikely to be on the same level after his ACL injury, is enough reason for fans to start worrying about the team's state.
A team's defensive prowess is integral to their hopes of succeeding in the NBA Playoffs. As such, the lack of defensively adept players could prove to be fatal to the Golden State Warriors' hopes of winning the NBA Championship next season.
#1 The Golden State Warriors have no squad depth
One of the biggest needs for a franchise to win an NBA Championship is to have a good amount of depth in their roster. This is something that the Golden State Warriors just don't have right now.
The franchise is missing a starting center and also needs suitable bench players that can take over while Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are rested.
While the starting lineup of the Golden State Warriors may still be an impressive one, it's safe to say that they can't be expected to play all 48 minutes in every game. To stand a chance of emerging at the top of the pile in a packed Western Conference and mount a serious challenge for the NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors will need to add a lot more quality to their squad
Also Read: 2021 NBA Championship odds released - Brooklyn Nets favorites to come out of the East
