Is The Warriors Roster Enough Heading Into Playoffs?
The Warriors' season this year has been a roller coaster of emotion, from lows of losing games against the lowly Pistons, Magic, and Hornets to highs of winning consecutive home games against title contenders in the Bucks and Suns.
It has been a frustrating yet exciting season for the Warriors this season, and it begs the question of whether this current Warriors roster has enough in them to make a deep playoff push. If healthy, the Warriors' roster has a good combination of two-way players in the front and backcourt to compete for another championship, and it all starts with the starting lineup.
The Warriors starting lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins (if he returns) Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney has something that no other team in the Western Conference possesses: A starting five that all have NBA Finals experience. If fully healthy, they are in fact a title contender.
Injuries have been a key factor this season, with multiple players missing time due to injury. If the Warriors are without key players in the playoffs, specifically Wiggins, Payton II and Iguodala, it will be challenging for them to make a deep playoff push.
Golden State has currently only made a couple of moves to solidify the backend of their roster by signing Anthony Lamb to an entire NBA contract and Lester Quinones to an NBA two-way contract for the last remaining games of the regular season before the playoffs.
The current team on the floor without Wiggins, who hasn't been with the team for over a month due to personal reasons, and Payton II and Iguodala sidelined due to injuries, do not have enough defenders on the bench to make a deep run in the playoffs.
If Wiggins and Payton II return to action before the playoffs, the Warriors can make a deep playoff push. If only Payton II returns, the Warriors still have a chance, but it is less likely they will make a deep playoff push without Wiggins.
But with all the adversity surrounding the Warriors this season, head coach Steve Kerr still believes that this Warriors team is in for something unique. After another disappointing road loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, 127-119, Kerr still believes they are positive signs ahead.
In his post-game press conference, Kerr stated, "I believe something good is going to happen with this group. We just have to keep fighting and keep moving forward."
As Kerr still believes something good will happen with this iteration of the Warriors, the home and road records tell two different stories about the direction of his optimism.
The good news is that the Warriors have the second best home record in the Western Conference, 29-7, only behind the first-seed Denver Nuggets with a record of 30-7 at home. The bad news is that the Warriors have one of the worst road records in the Association, 7-28, only ahead of the Houston Rockets, 6-28, and San Antonio Spurs, 6-27, who are fighting for the worst record in the NBA.
With all the adversity the Warriors have faced this year, resulting in the atrocious road record, fans should still believe this team can go far in the playoffs due to their elite home record showing signs of what they could - and arguably should - be.
If Golden State is fully healthy, and it's a big if, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. The starting five is elite and will compete with any starting five in the NBA. If healthy, the Warriors bench also has playoff experience with Jordan Poole, Payton II, Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga, JaMychal Green, and Moses Moody.
Teams in the NBA usually shorten their playoff rotation to seven or eight players. Still, the Warriors are in a unique situation this year compared to other teams. If healthy, they will play up to 10 or 11 guys in their rotation, depending on the matchup, and they will produce and play significant roles in the playoffs with the starters.
Teams in the NBA who make deep runs in the playoffs are usually top twelve in the NBA in offense and defense. The Warriors are second in the NBA in points per game, 118.3, only behind the Sacramento Kings at 120.9 points per game. Yet, there is a major concern because they could be a much better defensive team this year, although the biggest mark is that the disparity in their home and road defensive efficiency.
The Warriors have a defensive rating of 113.7, 18th overall in the NBA, and they give up 117.9 points per game, ranking 25th in the NBA. The Warriors are an elite offensive team led by Curry and Thompson, yet their defense would significantly improve if their two-way players of Wiggins, Payton II, and Iguodala return to the court at any point this season or post-season.
When the Warriors are fully healthy and have all their players ready to go, their current roster can be enough to compete in the playoffs, and potentially to run it back to the Finals. But will we be able to see it happen on the court this year?
(Photo credit: David Berding / Getty Images)