As the reigning NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors are facing huge expectations. One of them is from their head coach Steve Kerr, who stated in Friday's media day that they are going to "be better this year." It is scary to think that the Warriors can still do greater things following an already splendid showing last season. The Dubs sat on top of the NBA standings in the 2016-17 season with their 67-15 record. In the playoffs, they went 16-1 to claim their second Larry O'Brien Trophy in the past three seasons.
The Warriors' current depth is a reason why Kerr is confident that they could still be better.
Another reason is that they are retaining almost the same roster from their successful championship bid. Golden State added only a few players in the offseason, unlike in 2016, when they parted ways with some key contributors and signed Kevin Durant.
Improved depth
Last year, many saw depth as a problem for Golden State. That is not the case in 2017 as every position is filled with talent. At point guard, the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston. Klay Thompson, Nick Young, and Patrick McCaw are going to have responsibilities at shooting guard. Young was an offseason acquisition for the Dubs.
Golden State's small forward position will feature Durant, Andre Iguodala, and another newcomer in Omri Casspi.
The power forwards are Draymond Green, David West, Jordan Bell, and Kevon Looney. Finally, at center, the Warriors have Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Damian Jones. With a lineup like this, it is understandable why Kerr is optimistic that they are going to perform better in their new campaign.
KD downplays Kerr's statements
If Kerr is predicting that the Warriors will be better, Durant may have a different opinion. "We know we're not thinking about being better than last year at all. It's a new season. It's come in, work hard from day one, man, and see where it takes us," the 2017 Finals MVP said Friday during the team's media day.
Whatever Kerr, Durant, or any Golden State player says, the Warriors remain the favorites to capture the title in the 2017-18 NBA season. However, they do need to do better in the upcoming season since the competition, especially in the Western Conference, just got tougher. The likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to give them a run for their money. These squads made drastic changes to their respective rosters to improve.
