The reports of the Golden State Warriors’ death have been greatly exaggerated.
It took all of one game for NBA fans to pile on the Dubs after they lost 141-122 to the Los Angeles Clippers, who now look like they’re the new title favorites in the league. It got to the point where Charles Barkley said it right to Klay Thompson’s face during halftime of the contest: “They’re not going to make the playoffs because they just can’t score enough.”
But let’s break down why, with 81 games to go, that might not be true. Here are a few good reasons why:
1. The Clippers are the new Warriors
That’s one thing NBA fans and others got right:
So this is also true:
Let’s wait to see what happens in the next couple of games against less elite opponents.
2. They still have Steph Curry
Did we all forget he’s still one of the NBA’s biggest game-changers? He can still do stuff like this on a nightly basis:
That alone is worth a lot. He’s not going to miss nine three pointers every night, either.
3. D’Angelo Russell fit in seamlessly
How many other teams can boast a backcourt like that?
4. Draymond Green wasn’t 100 percent healthy
He left with an elbow injury and came back. The hope is he’s okay, and if it’s not a long-term problem, maybe he’ll rebound from a game that wasn’t great. And if anyone can get a team motivated to clean things up, it’s him.
5. A healthy Willie Caulie-Stein might help
The seven-footer missed the contest with a foot injury, and although he’s not known for shot-blocking, he could help on the defensive end.
6. It’s going to take time for this young team to gel more
Just ask Steve Kerr:
7. Maybe Klay Thompson returns??
After Kerr said it was “unlikely” the All-Star returns this season from a torn ACL, he clarified and walked it back a little bit. From ESPN:
“It’s just ACLs, generally they take nine to 12 months. So nine months takes us right to the end of the season. So I wasn’t announcing anything; he’s doing great in his rehab. It’s still possible that he could play — but I forgot with modern media that ‘unlikely’ is going to become a [story] on the ticker, ‘out for the year’ and all that stuff, so probably my mistake for opening my mouth. Not the first time I’ve gotten myself in trouble for doing that. But it’s an ACL so if you just do your research with the history of ACLs he had surgery July 2nd, get a calculator, do the math.”
So you’re telling me there’s a chance dot GIF … right?
