Last Week:10↑
2023-24 record: 46-36
OffRtg: 116.9 (9) DefRtg: 114.5 (15) NetRtg: +2.4 (13) Pace: 99.9 (11)
Key addition(s): De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield
Key departure(s): Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Dario Saric
Three numbers to know:
The Warriors had the league’s biggest differential between their record vs. the 12 teams that finished at or below .500 (27-5, .844) and their record vs. the 18 teams that finished over .500 (19-31, .380) last season.
They paced the league in the number of games – 48 – that were within five points with five minutes left in the game. Only one team was better than .500 when a game was within five points at that stage: Utah, as Minnesota finished 24-24 in the clutch. The Wolves also led the league with 11 losses after leading after three quarters.
Opponents shot just 43.0% on attempts defended by Draymond Green, though the expected field goal percentage on those shots was 49.5%. That minus-6.5% was the largest differential among 332 players who defended at least 250 shots last season.
Key question: Might they have upgraded this summer?
So, obviously, it will be an emotional blow to lose Thompson after 12 seasons and four championships alongside Thompson, Green and Stephen Curry, and it will be very weird seeing him in another uniform come October. At the same time, though, the Warriors might have gotten better this summer, as all of Anderson, Hield and Melton seem like good fits in their system. He’s shot better both in and out of the arc than Thompson in each of the last two seasons, though Thompson probably takes tougher shots.
The Warriors could still use a little more size, and Lauri Markkanen would obviously be another upgrade if they’re willing to sacrifice some of their future and work out a trade with the Jazz. Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski showed a ton of promise – and provided useful production – last season, but neither is nearly as special a player as either of the two championship cornerstones still left on the roster. So it would be a tough choice to make if the ball is in the Warriors’ court.
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