Warriors Aim to Prove Age Concerns Overblown
warriors-aim-to-prove-age-concerns-overblown
An ESPN analytical model suggests the Golden State Warriors could finish near the top of the Western Conference despite widespread doubts about the roster’s age and mileage.
Odds and Perception
According to ESPN BET, Golden State starts the season with the seventh-best chance to win the West. Many observers cite an aging core as the primary obstacle, yet writer Zach Kram reports that projections tell a different story.
Defensive Surge With Curry and Butler
From Jimmy Butler’s debut through the end of last season, the Warriors went 23-8. During that span they posted the league’s No. 1 defensive rating and the No. 3 net rating—results that translate to a 61-win full-season pace.
Projected Win Total
ESPN’s analytics currently forecast 56 victories for Golden State, the second-highest figure in the NBA behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Al Horford’s Arrival
The offseason addition of Al Horford gives Stephen Curry a front-court partner who can stretch the floor. Horford has hit better than 40 percent of his three-pointers in each of the past three seasons while maintaining strong defensive metrics, traits the Warriors expect to pair with the versatility of Butler and Draymond Green.
Depth and Continuity
Twelve of the team’s top 13 rotation players return, including guard Brandin Podziemski and forward Jonathan Kuminga. Kram notes that five Warriors—Curry, Butler, Green, Horford and Podziemski—rank within the NBA’s top 10 percent in per-possession impact, tying Golden State with Oklahoma City and Houston for the most such players.
While the Western Conference remains crowded with contenders and the Warriors’ stars are another year older, internal metrics indicate the club could remain a serious threat if its key pieces stay healthy.
Source: Hoops Wire
