NBA Countdown: No. 18 Golden State Warriors

Note: Sportsnet.ca will unveil a team preview every day from Oct. 1-30 counting down in reverse order where we believe the teams will finish.



The Warriors enter at No. 18:

2011-12 record: 23-43 (Division: 4th Pacific; Conference: 13th Western).

Key additions

Harrison Barnes (Drafted); Festus Ezeli (Drafted); Jarrett Jack (Acquired from Hornets); Carl Landry (Signed from Hornets).

Key subtractions

Dorell Wright (Traded to Sixers); Nate Robinson (Signed by Bulls).

Key player: Stephon Curry

As the team’s undisputed best player and fan favourite after Monta Ellis’ departure, Stephen Curry needs to put his ankle problems behind him and put in a full season for the Warriors. With his quickness and shooting capabilities, Curry has a chance to be one of the best players in the NBA, but if his ankles are indeed made out of glass, one more major injury could permanently derail a promising career while setting back the Warriors back another few years in their attempted rebuild.

Outlook

It seems like every season, the Golden State Warriors have exciting young talent who score a ton of points but give up even more.
In an attempt to change the direction of the franchise, the Warriors traded for Andrew Bogut, who should be back for the start of the season, though he still recovering from a fractured left ankle suffered last January while still a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

With the addition of a real starting center, the Warriors finally addressed their biggest needs: defence and rebounding. The new tandem of Bogut and David Lee won’t exactly put fear into an opponent’s attack, but a more conventional starting frontcourt means they have more flexibility within their roster when facing different offences.

Golden State has also done a nice job of adding veterans with the likes of Richard Jefferson, Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry sprinkled throughout the roster but this team is still limited on defence. Stephen Curry can be out-muscled, Klay Thompson can be beat off the dribble, Jefferson doesn’t have the lateral quickness he used to, and Lee is a known liability in one-on-one situations. When four of five starters have limitations on defence, it’s awfully hard to make the playoffs in a deep Western Conference.

On the bright side, the first round pick that they tanked last season for, Harrison Barnes, has reportedly had an impressive training camp so far.

Expect a drastic difference in style of play, but expectations shouldn’t get too out of hand in the Bay Area.

Prediction:

41-41 (Division: 3rd Pacific, Conference: 10th Western).

$(“#poll_10877”).v2Poll({poll_id: 10877});