19-20 season: Without Durant, Thompson, and Curry also missing a large number of games, the Warriors, who once created a "five-year triple crown" dynasty, under the leadership of Green and Wiggins (Russell), fell to 15 wins and 50 losses, becoming the bottom team in the league.
20-21 season: Curry returns, plus Oubre, Wiseman, Green, Wiggins and others, who thought the Warriors' worst results, can also squeeze into the playoffs. Who ever wanted to be in the playoffs, the Warriors have lost to the Lakers, the Grizzlies, and failed to reach the playoffs for two consecutive years...
21-22 season: Although not optimistic, the Warriors have played a championship-fighting strength
After missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, expectations for the Warriors have dropped to a freezing point, and basically no one will think that the Warriors can return to the championship in a short period of time, especially if Thompson has not yet returned.
However, the warriors in the new season, under curry's leadership, have not been the same as in the past two years. On the contrary, with Wiggins, Poole, Peyton Jr. and others have "exploded", playing a performance that far exceeded expectations, and has long been entrenched in the league's first record list.
In particular, in the process of the Warriors winning the first place in the league, they have also defeated the Lakers, Clippers, Philadelphia, Suns, Nets and other teams, not that they only rely on "shortcuts" to get the first record in the league when playing against weak teams. It is also the record of defeating many strong teams + the first place in the league, and the Warriors seem to have regained the strength to compete for the championship in the new season...
Although the warriors in the new season rely on excellent overall performance, they are once again recognized and have the strength to compete for the championship. But in fact, in the minds of most people and media people, they don't think much of it. On the contrary, many people are still optimistic that the Lakers, Nets, Bucks, Suns and other teams can eventually reach the Finals.
After all, the Bucks and The Suns were opponents in last season's Finals, and in the absence of much change in the lineup, they still have the strength to impact the Finals in the new season; and the Nets have gathered the three superstars of "Durant + Harden + Irving", and the Lakers also have the "James + Westbrook + Thick Eyebrows" three superstar blessings...
But the Warriors have neither strong forward stars, nor enough superstar helpers, and even two consecutive years of not making the playoffs; so even if they achieve the league's first record now, they are still not the most optimistic team to win the championship.
If these three points can be achieved, the Warriors may not have a chance to win the championship next year
1. Introduce a qualified blue-collar frame protector. Last season, the Warriors were obsessed with exploiting Wiseman's potential, with the intention of developing him into a giant player and helping the Warriors win the championship, so much so that they delayed the record in the first half of the season. Although Wiseman is now on the verge of returning, he will not be the best candidate for the Warriors' blue-collar interior line, whether it is from his talent, that is, his combat strength, or his style of play.
Looney also shined in the 19-year finals and played a good personal performance. It's just that his talent, potential, and encounters are really average, and he has never been able to grow into a qualified frame protector within the Warriors.
For example, in the recent Game of warriors vs Nuggets, Jokic in Looney's defense, a single game bombarded 22 points, 18 boards and 5 assists of the super data, while Looney only got 6 points and 5 boards, and finally due to the internal disadvantages are too obvious, the Warriors lost to the Nuggets 86-89.
Although it is normal for Looney's talent and ability to completely fall behind Jokic in the opposite position, it is not possible to let Jokic take it at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, right? Maybe today's Warriors will not be at a disadvantage when they play against small-ball teams, but you know, the league is not only the Nuggets, a team with strong centers.
The Jazz's Gobert, Philadelphia's Embiid, the Lakers' thick eyebrows, etc., their defensive and offensive capabilities can make the Warriors' internal line headaches. So today's Warriors want to go further in the playoffs, it is very necessary to strengthen a strong defensive interior player in the middle of the season, of course, if you can have a certain shooting and blocking ability is even better...
2. Ensure the stability of the rotation lineup. This year and last season' Warriors, in fact, have not changed much in the main lineup, but why is the Warriors' record not falling but rising in the case of Curry's data performance is obviously not as good as last season?
The reason why the Warriors can get the first record in the league in the new season is due to the outbreak of the Warriors' rotation lineup. Wiggins 18.8 points, 4.6 boards, 1.8 assists, 48.6% shooting percentage, Poole 17.9 points, 3.4 boards, 3.4 assists, 44.2% shooting percentage; coupled with the "explosive" performance of Bjelica, Payton Jr. and others, the Warriors finally stabilized the league's first throne.
Judging from the overall rotation of the Warriors in the new season, they have done quite well, both in terms of offensive firepower and defensive enthusiasm and intensity. If they can still maintain such a level of offensive and defensive output in the playoffs, then even if Thompson does not return, with the current state and strength of the Warriors, there is a great chance of rushing out of the West.
But if in the playoffs, Wiggins, Poole, Payton Jr. and others "pull their crotches" together, then the Warriors who return to superstar mode at that time will not be stronger.
3, to ensure the health of Curry, Green and other cores. If the Warriors can really bring in a blue-collar interior liner above average before the start of next year's playoffs, then their most important job next is to ensure the health of the team's core players.
Now the performance of Wiggins, Poole and others is indeed eye-catching, but in fact, this Warriors team is still relying on "Curry + Green"; for example, in the recent Game of warriors vs Nuggets, after the absence of Green's tandem and blocking, Curry is simply difficult to find an opportunity to easily shoot. Even Porter, Bjlitsa and others in the team's rotation lineup did not have the same dazzling offensive performance as in the past.
The stagnation in offense and the decline in defensive intensity are enough to show the importance of Green to the Warriors. Curry's super three-point ability and ball-holding ability are the basis of all the Warriors' tactics. Without Curry's blessing, the Warriors simply can't pull out the space and play a smooth offense.
Perhaps in the regular season, Curry's absence, or Green's absence, the overall impact on the Warriors' overall record is not very large, but in the playoffs where winning and losing, as long as Curry is absent from the last game or two, it may be that by the time he returns, the situation in the series may be completely different. So how to ensure the health of core players before and after the playoffs also determines how far the Warriors can go in the playoffs next year.
In summary, "the introduction of a qualified blue-collar frame protector, to ensure the stability of the rotation lineup, to ensure the health of curry, Green and other cores", if these three points can be done, then next year the Warriors may not have the opportunity to rush out of the West, may not be unable to win the championship.