For the first time in four years, the Golden State Warriors will open an NBA regular season without being labeled as the “favorite” to reach the NBA Finals.
Golden State saw a number of personnel changes this summer, from Klay Thompson's unfortunate ACL injury to the departure of Kevin Durant in free agency. Veterans such as Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are no longer on the roster, leaving a void in terms of leadership.
The team responded by acquiring the likes of D'Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson II and Marquese Chriss, but the Dubs face doubts as they prepare to deal with a reloaded Western Conference.
While Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will be the focal points of this Warriors team, Golden State will be demanding more of Kevon Looney after the team re-signed Looney this summer.
Hardly the most lethal individual from an offensive standpoint, Looney's performance nevertheless bears watching during tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Defensive anchor
Draymond Green is the team's most valuable and versatile defender, and he is the most vocal player on the floor at all times. However, Looney's presence in the frontcourt is an imperative key to the Warriors' success.
The Toronto Raptors frequently went after Looney during the NBA Finals. They would run a series of screen-and-rolls to get Looney to switch out onto their guards and force him to defend on the perimeter.
Looney is not the fastest player on the floor, but his physicality and recovery frustrated the likes of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet to no end. Looney's ability to switch out and still defend at a high level was also a big factor in keeping Chris Paul out of the paint during the Western Conference semifinals.
There is no question that Looney will have to excel as a help-side defender. Curry and Russell may struggle to guard opponents in isolation, and the Warriors will need Looney to alter shots at the rim.
The 23-year-old is also going to lock down the paint. With Green flying around all over the court, Looney is the team's most reliable rim protector.
More offensive opportunity?
Without Thompson and Durant, Golden State will need to find offense outside of Curry and Russell.
Looney is not very adept in the post, but he is an excellent screener. He was frequently sprung by Thompson and Iguodala for open looks around the rim during the 2018 playoffs, and he needs to continue to move off the ball and provide floor spacing.
Additionally, Looney should see more lobs and opportunities to shoot because defenses will be so zeroed in on Curry. Looney actually had some success in the mid-range game last season, albeit with a small sample size.
Can he replicate this success at a higher frequency?
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