With the exception of the 1975-76 follow-up championship year, no season for our Golden State Warriors has brought so much media and fan expectation.
A team championship or at least as deep a run or more in the playoffs?
MVP consideration for Stephen Curry?
A menacing Andre Iguodala controlling games on both ends of the court down the stretch and in the playoffs?
A healthy Andrew Bogut playing his best basketball for 80 games plus?
A deep bench that allows the Warriors core to be fresh for the playoffs?
But expectations are only fruitful if they are achieved in the end.
Often times what we expect and what really happens is at best a happy medium.
See the classic Charles Dickens book or the more modern movie with Ethan Hawke to see examples of that.
So, lets explore both ends of that Warriors “positional expectation spectrum” as we fast approach the season opener.
THE GUARDS
What we expect:
A healthy Stephen Curry for the entire 82 game season and playoffs
Comfort level and offensive explosiveness from Nemanja Nedovic
Seth Curry to become a bona fide NBA clone of his younger brother, Stephen
Above 50% field goal shooting and defensive player of the year consideration for Klay Thompson
Toney Douglas to more than replace Jarrett Jack‘s offensive/defensive bench relief of Curry
Improved play and longer game time minutes from Kent Blazemore
Realistically:
A rested and healthy Stephen Curry for most of the season and playoffs.
Some game experience from Nemanja Nedovic
Seth Curry to get comfortable in the NBA environment
Above 45% shooting and continued defensive improvement from Klay Thompson
Toney Douglas to replace some of Jarrett Jack’s offensive/defensive bench relief of Curry (Iguodala to help out with that, as well)
Improved play and longer game time minutes from Kent Blazemore (same)
THE FORWARDS
What we expect:
Crunch-time offense and defense as well as Curry back-up time duty from Andre Iguodala that will lead to a championship for the Warriors
A happy Harrison Barnes that doesn’t mind decreased minutes (due to Iguodala), but with the same defensive prowess and offensive explosion when asked upon off the bench
All-time highs in rebounds (951+), better low-post defense and continual upswing of points and assists from David Lee
Marreese Speights to more than replace Carl Landry‘s inside defense/offense bench relief of the Warrior’s big men
Above 40% field goal/3 pt shooting and stronger defense off the bench for Draymond Green
Realistically:
Crunch-time offense and defense as well as Curry back-up time duty from Andre Iguodala that will lead to a championship RUN for the Warriors (this is why we got him, right?)
A Harrison Barnes that pushes Iguodala and makes it difficult for Mark Jackson TO NOT play him less minutes (we’ll worry about the log-jam at forward after the title run)
850+ rebounds, some low-post defense and continual upswing of assists from David Lee (low-post points will be more crucial than overall points)
Marreese Speights to replace SOME of Carl Landry’s inside defense/offense bench relief of the Warrior’s big men
Above 40% field goal/3 pt shooting and stronger defense off the bench for Draymond Green (same)
THE CENTERS
What we expect:
A fully, healthy Andrew Bogut for the entire 82 game season and playoffs
A fully, healed and much improved inside game from Festus Ezeli after his return from injury in Dec/Jan
A fully, healthy and productive Jermaine O’Neal to back up Bogut at least until Ezeli is healthy
Realistically:
A rested, healthy Andrew Bogut for 70 games and ALL the playoffs (the playoffs are where we need him most)
A fully, healed and much improved inside game from Festus Ezeli by season’s end
A productive Jermaine O’Neal to back up Bogut at least until Ezeli is healthy
THE TEAM PROJECTED RECORD
What we expect: 60-22
Realistically: 55-27
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