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Over the last two seasons, the Golden State Warriors have failed to earn a playoff spot in the stacked Western Conference. At the start of their 2021-22 campaign, Stephen Curry is back to his MVP ways, while Draymond Green is putting himself back into contention for Defensive Player of the Year. These two stars have propelled the Warriors to a fantastic 7-1 start, highlighted by their league-best defensive rating of 96.0, per NBA.com/stats.
Bob Myers and the rest of the organization signed three veterans in Andre Iguodala, Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr. as individuals to mentor horde of talented young draftees. Holdovers like Jordan Poole and Damion Lee have shown immense improvement on their outside shooting through the phenomenal ball movement of the Warriors.
Other squads may already be frightened, but here are three reasons why impending return of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman will even make the Warriors a more formidable team.
Klay is the 2nd best shooter in NBA history!
Over the course of his career, Thompson has shot 41.9% from three-point range in a span of eight seasons. When he is on a shooting streak, he could easily rack up points in succession highlighted by his record 37 points scored in one quarter against the Sacramento Kings in January 2015. Even if he is coming off two gruesome injuries, Thompson's shooting accuracy will not just suddenly disappear, thus making him a dangerous threat at any area in the floor.
Golden State is currently averaging 30.1 assists per game which is a testament to the unselfishness of a team that focuses on generating open three-point shots and easy dunks. Thompson's familiarity with Steve Kerr's system will make the adjustment period easier even if he will be on a minutes restriction in the first few weeks. Inserting the Splash Brothers along with Iguodala, Green and Andrew Wiggins as their final five is a championship-caliber lineup for Golden State.
Wiseman could excel in the second unit
Wiseman was the starting center for the Warriors last season, but there were many instances when he was lost on defensive coverages and offensive sets. At just 20 years of age, this process is part of growing pains for Wiseman, but his talent and upside is still unquestioned. With Kevon Looney locked in the first unit, Wiseman could flourish in the second unit and utilize his size and athleticism as a major asset for Golden State.
In the West, there are several big men that could cause problems for Kerr, like Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis. Thus, the return of Wiseman gives Kerr the option of using another big man along with Green, Looney and Bjelica in shoring up the interior defense of Golden State. Moreover, their wings are sensational defenders also as they could provide help in manning the paint and crashing the boards.
Versatility is top-notch for the Dubs
Even without Thompson and Wiseman yet, Kerr has already been experimenting with a slew of lineup combinations that could help the Warriors reach their full potential, especially in the playoffs. The addition of these two key pieces in their championship run expands their options to run a small, fast, big or shooting-based lineup.
Golden State's three title teams were terrific because Kerr had the liberty to play lineups that provided different challenges for opponents on the biggest stage. Come playoff time, he could play Curry, Thompson, Poole, Porter Jr. and Bjelica if he wants his five best shooters on the floor together. On the other hand, he could also have a defensive unit of Gary Payton II, Thompson, Wiggins, Green and Iguodala.
With the other West organizations having their own worries this season, Golden State should be ecstatic with its hot start and well-rounded contributions across the board. Letting their guard down in the middle of the season is unlikely to happen with a franchise led by Curry, Green and Thompson. As they aspire to win their fourth championship with this core, it's never seemed more likely for the Warriors than after the first eight games of the regular season.
