The Warriors aren’t heading into the playoffs as the favorite to win the NBA title, but discounting Golden State’s chances would be a serious mistake.
This season’s version of the Warriors isn’t going to conjure up images of the team that annihilated the rest of the NBA a few seasons ago. That doesn’t mean Steve Kerr’s current squad can’t make serious noise in this year’s postseason.
Counting out the Warriors’ chances of winning another title would be a big mistake. The NBA remains a star-driven league and Golden State has more than its share of big names. Any team would Steph Curry at the controls has a chance to win any series.
The Warriors aren’t going to be a factor just because of their offensive talisman though. Fans in the Bay should keep a close eye on the following five reasons as hope for Golden State’s chances to bring home another Larry O’Brien trophy.
5. Kevon Looney can neutralize offensive big men
Looney isn’t an overly valuable regular-season player as a big man that doesn’t really score or protect the rim at a high level. The reason he remains an important cog of Kerr’s rotation is because of the value he can provide in the postseason.
Specifically, Looney still does a terrific job defending low post scorers with his physical frame. That can be really useful against Western Conference teams with dominant centers. Looney’s ability to play respectable defense against stars like Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert gives Golden State a meaningful boost in a potential seven-game series.