NBA Golden State Warriors

Predicting The Golden State Warriors’ 2014-15 Win Total

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By @NickCWilder

Golden State Warriors Steph Curry

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors are coming off a very successful season in which they posted 51 wins in a loaded Western Conference. A first-round playoff exit at the hands of the rival Los Angeles Clippers left a bad taste in the mouths of Warriors fans, but the team showed great promise throughout the year. The Warriors finished sixth overall in the Western Conference last season, but you should expect them to jump up a couple spots this year.

Golden State made the curious decision in the offseason to fire head coach Mark Jackson, and given the state of the franchise prior to his arrival, he did an admirable job with this team over the span of three seasons. However, Jackson was reportedly let go primarily because of his reluctance to deviate from his set lineups and showed little creativity with several versatile players.

The Warriors decided to bring in former NBA player and general manager Steve Kerr as head coach, who should provide some excitement and a fresh-look to this team. The organization also signed Shaun Livingston in the offseason, after struggling throughout last year to find a consistent option for the backup point guard role.

The team was also in trade talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star power forward Kevin Love this offseason. However, the team ultimately decided not to deal their prized young shooting guard Klay Thompson for him. It was a decision that signaled the Warriors’ desire to keep the young backcourt of Steph Curry and Thompson together for many years.

There has been talk of Kerr bringing Andre Iguodala off the bench for more offensive balance, which would be an intriguing option for the Warriors. Starting Harrison Barnes could prove to be a more comfortable role for him as he continues to develop his game.

Veterans David Lee and Andrew Bogut will again solidify the frontcourt for the Warriors, as the Splash Brothers drain three-point shots from all over the court. As long as Bogut can stay healthy, which is always a question mark, this team is poised for a deep run in the West.

The Warriors will have to go through the brutal Western Conference night after night again, which could be even tougher this season. However, with a strong combination of veteran leadership and young pieces who’ve matured, Golden State will post wins consistently and emerge as a contender. Look for Curry to be in the thick of the MVP race throughout the year, as he was a forgotten candidate last season.

Final projected 2014-15 win total: 56

Nick Wilder is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickCWilder and add him to your network on Google. 

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