All NBA teams start the season with lofty goals and aspirations. Some franchises are thinking championships, while some are building for the future. One thing they all have in common is problems and concerns. Some organizations deal with more dilemmas than others, and here are the three concerns the Golden State Warriors have entering the 2021-22 season.
3. Point Guard Troubles
One thing that became a lingering issue last season was finding a reliable backup point guard. This season, the Warriors could have the same problem. As reports surfaced about a workout with retired point guard Darren Collison, it alerts fans that the PG position is still a concern.
Currently, Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, and Chris Chiozza are the point guards under contract. Before the season begins, we might see different faces if the front office thinks it's necessary.
If there are no changes, we could see the second unit trying to duplicate the starters with Juan Toscano-Anderson playing the role of Draymond Green. He proved to be a gifted passer in his first season with the Warriors, but can he be enough for the team to be successful?
2. Hit The Boards
The next concern the Warriors will have to pay attention to is rebounding. Last season, the Dubs ranked 22nd in total rebounds and 27th in rebound percentage.
When it came to offensive rebounds, the results were even worse. The team tied the Miami Heat for last place in the NBA with 8.0 per game, and they were last all by themselves in offensive rebound percentage. While it's not necessary to be a dominant offensive rebounding team to be good, being so bad at getting second-chance opportunities isn't ideal
James Wiseman and Kevon Looney are the only true centers on the roster, and there was no added help in the rebounding category during the offseason (Nemanja Bjelica doesn't really count). If one of the two misses a game, the team noticeably struggles with rebounding. With the league modifying lineups to small-ball play, the Warriors could still get by with this problem. However, it still can be a significant concern.
1. Health Is Wealth
Lastly, there is the biggest concern of all: health. Klay Thompson's back-to-back season-ending injuries played a huge part in the Warriors missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Curry missed most of the 2019-20 season with a broken hand, and last season he dealt with a fractured tailbone.
The list goes on and on. Wiseman's rookie season was cut short with a meniscus injury. During free agency, the squad signed Otto Porter Jr. He played only 42 games over the last two seasons.
Injuries destroyed the previous two seasons for the Warriors. There's nothing the team can really do about this concern other than pray this year is different and hope the medical staff can do its best.
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Organizations that deal with concerns and flaws the best will successfully move through the season. The ones who can't overcome or correct these concerns will find themselves making plans for the next season.
As for the Warriors, bad luck can only last so long. Their championship DNA is still intact, and if they can stay healthy, a run in the playoffs is coming about.
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