The Golden State Warriors look to finally make it to the playoffs this year after two years of striking out. They’ve dealt with injuries to their superstars and just sheer bad luck over the past two seasons. This year, they’re more than ready to finally make noise in the league again especially after putting the NBA on notice with a 5-0 preseason winning streak. 

However, the Warriors will still have plenty of questions to answer before they can go back to the mountain top of the NBA. They no longer have one of if not the best lineups of all time and have to continue to build around Stephen Curry now. The pressure is on the management to make the most out of Curry’s prime and they’re doing that by investing in their rookies and signing competent role players by his side. 

From what looks of it, the Warriors are ready to go but here are five questions they still need to address before claiming their spot back on top of the league. 

Golden State Warriors 2021-22 NBA Season Questions

Can the team win the minutes when Curry goes to the bench?

The biggest weakness of the Golden State Warriors last season was finding a way to be productive when Curry was not on the floor. Their bench players just couldn’t fulfil that role and it brought more pressure on Steve Kerr and Curry. This season, Golden State might just have enough to win those minutes with the emergence of Jordan Poole’s scoring ability and hopefully the return of Klay Thompson. If the Warriors can win those minutes when Curry goes to the bench, this will already be a huge plus for them. 

Can Jordan Poole continue to ball out? 

One storyline that has come out from the Warriors’ preseason is Poole’s impressive performance. It may have only been preseason but it seems like Poole looks way more comfortable on the court and has added a few tricks to his bag. It seems his decision making has also developed and his three point range is already spot on. Now, the biggest question for Poole is if he can transition this to the regular season? 

Remember, the regular season is when the defensive coverages get way more tough and the pressure is a little more intense. Hopefully for the Warriors, Poole’s emergence lately isn’t just a preseason kind of thing but instead is one that will help the team especially on the offensive end.

Will Klay Thompson return back to the Klay Thompson we know?

A lot of the Golden State Warriors’ success this season will depend on Thompson, who is coming off two major injuries. The same kind of injuries that have prevented athletes from returning as the same player they were once as. 

Thompson is reportedly going to play in December and the main question is whether or not he is still the same player he once was. Because if he is, then the Golden State Warriors will just be 5 times better than they already are. That’s how good of a player Thompson is and how much of an impact he’s had on the Warriors success over the past couple of years. 

Can Otto Porter Jr. stay healthy?

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Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) sits on the bench during action against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter during a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at the Golden 1 Center.

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The Golden State Warriors acquiring OPJ at a minimum is a crime, especially if he manages to stay healthy. That’s how good of a player OPJ is, especially if he can knock down the shots handed to him. He’s a superb wing player and has proven that he can make a significant impact on the court. The only question about him is really his health. 

If OPJ does stay healthy, the Warriors have a 3-D wing who can perhaps defend the likes of Paul Goerge, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum and other lethal superstars in that position. OPJ can also remove the defense’s attention on Curry especially if he lurks on the corner. He can also create his own shot when the Warriors need instant offense and basically be a threat on that side of the ball.

Can Curry continue to play at a high level? 

As crazy as this question is, it’s still fair to ask this because the Golden State Warriors need Steph to play at a high level almost every game in order for them to succeed. A lot depends on Curry’s performance this season but he’s proven time and time again that he’s more than capable of going off every night. That’s why the Warriors are so deadly against everyone because Curry can just take over and explode any game. The only challenge is that he has to do this almost all the time.