It wasn’t that long ago that the Golden State Warriors were at the top of the basketball world.
Thanks to the heroics of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Dubs were able to enjoy five years of blissful greatness en route to winning multiple titles.
Unfortunately, the Warriors haven’t been able to stay afloat since.
Over the past two years, injuries and offseason departures took their toll, and Dub Nation was unable to make the playoffs at all.
Now, looking ahead to the 2021-22 campaign, 2x MVP Steph Curry says his team’s days at the top are not yet over.
“With the two guys we drafted and, hopefully getting Klay back as soon as possible, we have full confidence we are still that team. We obviously have to go out and prove it, but that’s kind of the vibe right now and we’re just trying to stay patient with it.”
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It might sound like a pipe-dream, but the Warriors still have the same core they did during their Championship run in 2015.
Steph Curry and Draymond Green have had their run-in with injuries, but they both have remained effective and productive at this stage in their careers.
For Steph in particular, he’s coming off, arguably, one of his greatest stretches yet. Last season, through 63 games, Curry was an MVP candidate with averages of 32 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game on 42% shooting from downtown.
On the sidelines, the Warriors still have head coach Steve Kerr at the helm, a guy who clearly knows how to resonate with stars.
The only real question mark for Golden State is Klay Thompson, who has not seen game action for two full seasons now.
After following his ACL tear with a busted Achilles, there is doubt that he will be able to return to form as an All-Star in the West. But if he is able to re-discover his stroke from beyond the arc, and play passable defense in the meantime, it should be enough to help the Warriors return to the postseason.
Either way, it’s not wise to count them out, not with all the talent (both new and old) that they have.
