Reasons why the Warriors will have a surprisingly good regular season in 3, 2, 1...

The defense has reached singularity.

I believe in tipping points with defense, the number of great defenders necessary to make the whole team start trying on the defense.

Too few defenders on a team and even the great defenders stop trying. You see it all the time. Take the case of Dray last season. He couldn’t hide his disgust at playing with DAR and no center. What was the point of trying?

Im wagering the same will prove true of Wiggins.

The Warriors have a multitude of solid wing defenders this season. Oubre, Baze, Lee, Wanamaker are proven quantities. With Dray back healthy at 4, the Warriors should be one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Particularly if Wiggins commits.

Wiseman is a great unknown - but it appears he knows what the team needs from him and he has some physical tools.

If the Warriors can get 15m from him and 15m from a “healthy” Kevon Looney...

Singularity.

2) Playing style. Kerr seems to have committed to the running game this season. That in itself in conjunction with the defense makes the Warriors a better than .500 club.

Any player in the league better than Stephen Curry in the open court?

Anyone better in NBA history?

Any better role for Andrew Wiggins - great athlete, good finisher, iffy shooter - than filling the lane on the break?

Any frontcourt faster end to end than Draymond and Wiseman? Not if what we’re being told is true.

The Warriors have stocked their roster with deer. What do you do with deer?

RUN.

How do you beat bigger slower teams?

RUN.

How do you beat better halfcourt teams?

RUN.

If Kerr is truly committed the Warriors will win a ton of games on defense and speed alone.

3) The halfcourt.

I’ve been begging the Warriors from Curry’s day one to get him a PNR partner at center. Someone who can get to the rim in a stride and dunk on people’s heads.

Someone who can BREAK THE DAMN BLITZ for one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.

Stockton had Malone.

Nash had Stoudemire.

Who has Curry had?

The Kwame Brown era
Bogut
Zaza
Damian Jones

And the blitz. A direct result of these playing partners who couldn’t get to the rim. The most all-out ferocious double teaming any pg in history has ever faced.

It virtually necessitated that Curry be played off ball. Virtually necessitated the triangle that year after year failed in the playoffs. Failed in crunch time. Even in the championship seasons.

Is Wiseman the answer? The PNR partner the greatness of Curry has been crying out for?

At the very least, it’s an attempt. The first in the Curry era, unless you want to count JaVale.

And again, Kerr seems to have committed to it.

Kerr recently admitted that his system in the past has clogged the lane. (Something I wrote about for years.)

This season will be different. He’s going to spread the floor so that his wings can drive.

What was left unmentioned? That the Warriors won’t be playing triangle.

So if they’re not playing triangle, what will they be playing?

NBA GODDAMN PICK AND ROLL.

Finally. Kerr has committed to the system Stephen Curry was born for.

High pick and roll with a dominant dunk threat. Curry to Wiseman.

That’s the theory. Can’t wait to see it.

4) Oubre and Wiggins are going to have the best seasons of their careers.

It’s obvious isn’t it? Playing with Curry they’ll be more open than they’ve ever been before.

And for the first time in their careers they will be playing with two players in Curry and Dray who WANT to get them the ball. Players who will SEE them flash open, and will deliver the ball on time and on the hands. Every single time.

They’ll be playing with world champions.

And they’ll be playing in the perfect offensive system for athletes with average shot making ability.

The running game, to get them to the rim in the open floor.

The spread floor in halfcourt, to open the lanes to drive.

I happen to like Oubre more than Wiggins. More physical, more will to defend, more dog. And his shot is better.

But I like Wiggins’ prospects this season enough to reach for him in fantasy. And for me that’s saying something.

5) Chemistry.

Curry Dray and Loon are world champions that command utmost respect. As does Kerr.

All of the top 4 have gotten paid.

No agendas on this team other than winning. That’s incredibly rare. And it will produce wins.

6) The West.

Don’t look now, but it’s worse than I’ve ever seen it. Outside of the Lakers, anyone to strike fear in Warriors hearts? Any team they can’t beat on any given night?

If 72 games are played and Curry and Dray stay healthy, the Warriors will crush the 38.5 win line.

I see a 4 seed or better.

The playoffs? Eh. That’s another story.