The Golden State Warriors, winners of 4 NBA championships within the earlier 10 seasons, got here into Friday’s sport in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans with an 11-3 document, placing them in first place within the Western Convention.
But loads of individuals aren’t positive if they’ve turn into true championship contenders as soon as once more.
Kendrick Perkins, the ESPN persona, stated previous to the Warriors’ Emirates NBA Cup group play sport on Friday that the Warriors are authentic championship contenders and even in contrast their excellent play to how rapper Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX has carried out on the charts.
.@KendrickPerkins and Bob Myers consider that Steph Curry can contend for a title this season with Golden State 👀
“The Warriors been poppin’ in the West like Kendrick Lamar’s new album.” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/faMtkfSzZ1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 23, 2024
The Warriors final received all of it in 2022, however they misplaced within the second spherical of the playoffs the next yr, and final yr, they didn’t even attain the playoffs.
They misplaced Klay Thompson, one of many most important pillars of their dynasty, in free company this summer time, and far of their supporting forged across the legendary Stephen Curry seems to be slightly totally different this season.
However they now sport a deep roster, and so they got here into Friday ranked fifth in offensive ranking and fourth in defensive ranking, and solely the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are averaging extra factors per sport than them.
One query about whether or not they can preserve what they’ve been doing is who will probably be their constant second star.
Will or not it’s Andrew Wiggins, who was an All-Star starter within the 2021-22 season, or may or not it’s Buddy Hield, the sharpshooter they introduced on this offseason to basically change Thompson?
Hield is averaging 16.5 factors in 24.5 minutes a sport whereas taking pictures a career-high 45.1 p.c from 3-point vary to date this yr.
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