NBA Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors Are Dark Horse Contenders In 2014-15

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By @DSchultz89

Stephen Curry NBA Warriors

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We are only a week into the new NBA season, and it is difficult to tell so far which teams could be legitimate contenders and which ones will be nothing more than first- or second-round exits. However, I am totally on board the Golden State Warriors bandwagon. They were a good team with an average coach last season in Mark Jackson, but they are a truly scary team now with a great coach in Steve Kerr calling the shots.

Kerr’s high-intensity motion offense is clearly a page out of the San Antonio Spurs‘ playbook, the team Kerr spent his last playing season with. It is clear watching this team that they want to play to their strengths as much as possible, which is outside shooting and getting out on the break for easy fast-break opportunities.

It comes to no surprise that Kerr’s revamped offensive system has widely benefited Klay Thompson so far. Thompson is off to the best start of his career after receiving a four-year, $70 million contract extension last week. He is currently averaging 27.0 PPG, 2.5 APG and 2.3 RPG on 54 percent shooting from the field and a 50 percent mark from outside. It is clear that Thompson has been encouraged to shoot as much as possible, which has paid huge dividends for his confidence.

Many criticized the Warriors when they refused to include Thompson in any potential deals to acquire Kevin Love this past offseason, but so far it appears they made the right call in keeping the 24-year-old swingman.

Of course Thompson’s older “Splash Brother,” Stephen Curry, is still the leader of the team. Curry is making a strong case early on for MVP, averaging 26.0 PPG, 7.0 APG and 6.5 RPG. His shooting percentages must improve, but they should given his natural scoring ability and fearlessness to pull from anywhere on the court.

While the “Splash Brothers” are understandably huge for the team’s overall success, the young core of the Warriors will also have a huge effect for them this season. Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes have been fun to watch this season, especially Green, who appears ready to bust out big time this year. In addition to this, the Warriors have an outstanding mix of veterans on the team.

Andre Iguodala has always been a lock-down defender who the team can trust on the opposition’s best perimeter player in crunch time minutes. Shaun Livingston is also a terrific player who has the length and quickness to stay in front of some of the best guards in the league. And finally, with a healthy Andrew Bogut in the middle, the Warriors have a feared inside presence on defense that can guard the block, something they have not had in a long time.

The Warriors are this year’s dark horse contender to win it all. With the Oklahoma City Thunder dealing with a myriad of crippling injuries and the Los Angeles Clippers appearing to be a favorable matchup for the Warriors, this is the year for them to take the next step and to become a title contender.

They will still have to get through the Spurs out West, but they gave them a great fight two years ago in the Western Conference Semifinals, and they have improved tremendously as a team since then. While all the talk out West may be about the Spurs, Clippers and now the Dallas Mavericks, make no mistake about it: these Warriors are a legitimate threat to not just come out of the West this season, but to win it all too.

Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

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