The Golden State Warriors have experienced a significant decline in the past year-and-a-half following their fourth NBA championship in eight seasons.
In the previous season, their performance at home and on the road differed greatly, resulting in an inconsistent display that ultimately led to their elimination in the second round of the playoffs.
However, this season, they have managed to turn things around. Despite losing 24 out of their first 43 games, they have recently achieved a five-game winning streak and have emerged victorious in seven out of their last eight games.
This impressive turnaround has sparked discussions about the Warriors potentially becoming a dark-horse team. Bill Simmons even drew a comparison between them and the Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, suggesting that they could make a deep run this summer.
Simmons stated, “So I went from ‘I’m completely out’ to ‘Oh man, is this going to be like the Chiefs?’ Is this where we counted out the Chiefs? Their receivers can’t catch the ball, they can’t score 20 points. And then they win the Super Bowl. I don’t know if the Warriors can win the [NBA Finals], but at least it seems believable now.”
There has been a prevailing belief that Golden State’s dynasty has been on the decline, particularly in terms of their defensive abilities.
During their championship seasons, they were renowned for their elite defense, which complemented their exceptional offense and revolutionized the NBA.
However, Klay Thompson, who was a key player during their title runs and a five-time All-Star, has noticeably regressed. Additionally, forward Andrew Wiggins, an All-Star starter two years ago, has struggled with his shooting.
Nevertheless, Wiggins has recently improved his efficiency, and Stephen Curry has delivered some impressive scoring performances.
One of the factors contributing to the Warriors’ resurgence is the emergence of forward Jonathan Kuminga. Previously considered a disappointment after being selected in the lottery, Kuminga has been averaging 15.6 points per game this season, a significant increase from his average of 9.9 points per game last year.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com