10 Ways Warriors Won’t Win 2017 NBA Title
The 2017 NBA Playoffs are here, and Golden State has had no problem in the early going.
They swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, winning every game by an average of 18 points.
Now set to face the Utah Jazz, it feels like the Warriors can’t lose with their core of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
But there is a remote possibility that they’ll lose. This being said, let’s cover 10 ways that Golden State could wind up empty-handed.
1. Durant Gets Injured Again
The Warriors’ big offseason addition suffered an MCL sprain in the last few weeks of the regular season. During the first-round series against the Trail Blazers, Durant again sat out two games with a calf strain.
The 28-year-old should be good to go against the Jazz. But if he gets hurt again, the Warriors will lose the big weapon they added this summer.
2. The Bench Sucks Worse than We Thought
Last season, Golden State had 11 players average at least 11 minutes or more. This year, that number dropped to 9 players.
One big reason why is because they lost key reserves Brandon Rush, Leandro Barbosa, Marreese Speights, and Festus Ezeli in the offseason.
Now, players like Ian Clark, JaVale McGee, Patrick McCaw, and an aging David West just don’t have the same ring.
3. Golden State Keeps “Over Passing”
After a December game against the Toronto Raptors, Durant said that the team was turning the ball over due to over-passing.
“We doing a lot from just over passing, and gettin into the lane, and trying to make the second and third pass when you got a layup.”
If the Warriors keep trying to be fancy, it could come back to bite them in crucial late-game moments.
4. Cleveland Once Again Rises to the Occasion
The Warriors were expected to repeat as NBA champions last season. But they were stopped just short by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Cleveland played poorly down the stretch of the 2017 regular season. But they swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round and appear to have integrated all the new faces into their lineup. That said, they could once again prove to be a formidable competitor.
5. Golden State Proves to be Too Small
While the Warriors are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, they still don’t have any imposing inside players. McGee is the closest thing at 7 feet and 270 pounds. But he only plays 12 minutes per game and has a limited offensive repertoire.
That said, they could struggle inside against teams like the Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, both of which have the ability to go big at any time.
6. The Warriors Have a Target on their Back
Maybe it doesn’t always matter since Golden State is so good, but every opponent brings their A-game whenever facing the Dubs.
This means that Golden State has to withstand the best shot from every team moving through the playoffs.
7. They’re a Jump Shooting Team
With Thompson, Curry, and Durant, it’s no surprise that the Warriors are one of the league’s best three-point shooting teams. They’ve also got outstanding mid-range shooters in Durant, Thompson, and Shaun Livingston.
But as Charles Barkley says, jump-shooting teams don’t win championships…
8. The Warriors are Under Pressure
Many consider the 2017 championship as being the Warriors’ to lose. Given that they’re expected to win after adding Durant, Golden State has all the pressure on their shoulders.
9. Steve Kerr could Miss Playoffs
Head coach Steve Kerr has done a great job of managing all of this talent. But he’s also dealing with complications from 2015 back surgery and missed a couple games in the Portland series.
It’s unclear as to how Kerr’s health will be moving forward. If he continues to miss playoff games, then assistant Mike Brown becomes the head coach. And while Brown has plenty of head-coaching experience, he hasn’t won any championships like Kerr.
10. Golden State’s Core could Combust
Golden State knew that adding Durant would create a different dynamic with their team. And while KD has done a solid job of blending in with his new teammates, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
This is particularly true of his on-court relationship with Green. While they two are friends, they’ve gotten into a couple of heated exchanges.