Are the non-Wiseman Warriors contenders?

[Jester_]

According to net rating we might be.

Since James Wiseman's injury, the Warriors are ranked #1 in net rating. #1 in defensive rating. #4 in offensive rating, going 7-2 in that stretch.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=9

Narratives! Reactionary takes!

[GSWFan1994]

It's great, but a little context would be useful too.

Like, the strength of the opposite teams during this 7-2 stretch.

Curry's otherwordly play. Could it be sustained?

Other player's level of performance. Ditto.

And so on.

[whatisacenter]

No. This team would be lucky to win a play in game IMO. Looney is not a legit big and starting and finishing small is not a realistic formula. Also in the playoffs teams will allowed to grab, hold and be more physical with Curry when he is off ball.

[Warriors Analyst]

No. This team would be lucky to win a play in game IMO. Looney is not a legit big and starting and finishing small is not a realistic formula. Also in the playoffs teams will allowed to grab, hold and be more physical with Curry when he is off ball.

Looney has been our best big in the playoffs for two Finals appearances. He just did phenomenal work on Jokic and Embiid in the same week. I don't know what you've been watching if you've concluded he's not a legit big.

[SpreeChokeJob]

Not deep enough. Walking on a tightrope. Also concerned with the mileage put on Curry in a non contention season. Kobe went down with injury when he was pushing too hard.

[Impuniti]

Steph looks like he could break down at any point, he's had two ankle scares in the last 2 weeks alone and looks banged up. Dray since Steph has been back has been working his ass off, fighting and giving 100%, so he's probably even more banged up than the Chef is. Looney Tunes is always a harsh breath away from all the straw-like body falling apart.

Lets say the entire team stays fit, and lets say that nobody else gets COVID or is in the protocol for it. I think a solid result would be losing in 6-7 games of the Western Conference semi-finals vs Clippers or Lakers. I think if Steph can maintain 90% of this form, anybody else can get got vs this team. Not saying one team will win either way, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this Warriors team take down anyone else.

This teams lacks several different things, the obvious and quick one is another elite shooter. On top of that, they lack experience outside of 3 guys in the PS. Not a lot of clutch guys unless it's Steph & Dray. Not much depth, not as many high IQ players, and some much needed vets like West, Iggy and Shaun are needed (and what the FO needs to find next summer).

[whatisacenter]

No. This team would be lucky to win a play in game IMO. Looney is not a legit big and starting and finishing small is not a realistic formula. Also in the playoffs teams will allowed to grab, hold and be more physical with Curry when he is off ball.

Looney has been our best big in the playoffs for two Finals appearances. He just did phenomenal work on Jokic and Embiid in the same week. I don't know what you've been watching if you've concluded he's not a legit big.

His physical size.

Yes, the Warriors, Draymond and Looney, did an amazing job on Ebiid and Jokic but I don't believe that would hold up in a 7 game series. This stretch has been nice with some good wins against top teams who were without some of their best players but they also lost to the Wizards and barely beat the Kings without Fox. This team has no rim protection and I believe that if the FO really thought this team was a serious contender then they would have picked up a big instead of GP2.

[Old_Blue]

Poor Wiseman...The further this team goes in the playoffs, the more finger pointing there will be in his direction.

[WarriorGM]

I have been critical of the front office for leaving Curry with such a miserable team for a reason. Same reason I've considered the preoccupation with tanking and draft picks odious.

Stephen Curry is the greatest player in basketball. He always gives you a chance. We are seeing him take the worst team in the league last year that was further weighed down by the worst player who has gotten significant minutes in the past few seasons to the cusp of a playoffs berth and a .500 season. It should be obvious that he is capable of making even an average team a contender. Indeed we may need to look back at that 2015 team and evaluate just how much better than average it really was without Steph. It's possible he has already taken an average team to a championship.

The lack of faith shown in Curry has been disgraceful. That's why anything less than saying Curry is the best player in the league has me up in arms. This year could have been a strong contending year even without Klay, but because so few thought of Curry in the proper light, that opportunity looks likely to be squandered.

[HiRez]

No, they are not contenders, not even close. They've done well considering the Klay injury, but I don't see any way they make it through 4 playoff series (and probably another play-in game or two) to the end. Not even if Steph is averaging 30+ ppg.

For one thing we still make too make bonehead plays like turnovers, missed layups and freethrows, and stepping out of bounds (I swear to god I have never seen another team commit so many of these). We're #23/30 in turnover % and #25/30 in opponent points off turnovers. Those little things just kill you in the playoffs, you can't afford to give away a game from an unforced error.

And we still have major problems with large frontline players, they will wear us down over a series and the fouls will pile up fast, which kills our whole flow.

Even with a healthy Klay, I think it's iffy. He'd help, obviously, but he doesn't solve all the problems.

[Sleepy51]

Poor Wiseman...The further this team goes in the playoffs, the more finger pointing there will be in his direction.

That’s going to be strictly a fan/Press gaggle phenomenon. NBA professionals outside of the Ws had reasonable expectations for a 19 year old big man. I don’t live local so I consume a lot of National NBA content and there were a lot of eyebrows raised at how he has been handled this year. His stock will be down coming off injury but around the league this is being viewed as a mishandled year and a Warriors problem, not a Wiseman problem. A number of GMs around the league are eager to see us pull the plug.

[ILOVEIT]

No. But let's put it this way. There is definitely a scenario where the Warriors get a little lucky with Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Utah taking each other out or having injury or chemistry issues.

But there is no way Warriors would beat a healthy Nets, Bucks...hell...even Knicks. Just too small.

You add a healthy Klay....definitely...but Warriors have shown zero ability this year to execute down the stretch in close games....and that's what Playoffs are all about.

[Impuniti]

No. But let's put it this way. There is definitely a scenario where the Warriors get a little lucky with Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Utah taking each other out or having injury or chemistry issues.

But there is no way Warriors would beat a healthy Nets, Bucks...hell...even Knicks. Just too small.

You add a healthy Klay....definitely...but Warriors have shown zero ability this year to execute down the stretch in close games....and that's what Playoffs are all about.

Just stop it. In some magical scenario where the Warriors would make the final, it sure as **** wouldn't be against the Knicks. And vs a healthy Warriors team, Knicks would get diced.

[Money_]

It's more about the absence of big men (cept Loon) in general, and how they've been forced to play small, than has to do with JDub.

This team goes as far as Curry takes them. Does he have a 7 game first round in him after a play in tournament? Hope we get to watch it!

[clyde21]

no, obviously we are not contenders

but anyone who still thinks Wiseman is a good fit here is foolin themselves.

[GSWFan1994]

Activating reverse Uno card...

[Onus]

If we get the 8th seed, I can see us beating Utah. If Denver can beat the Lakers I can see us beating Denver, I don't think we can beat a healthy Lakers. I think we can beat the Clippers. I'm not sure about the Suns. So out of the top 4 teams in the west we can possibly beat 2 of them. That's not too bad. Out of the east I don't think we beat the Nets. The Bucks would be tough, but we could beat the Sixers. So 1 out of the 3 in the top of the East. We have a chance if everything breaks for us but highly unlikely

[Onus]

I have been critical of the front office for leaving Curry with such a miserable team for a reason. Same reason I've considered the preoccupation with tanking and draft picks odious.

Stephen Curry is the greatest player in basketball. He always gives you a chance. We are seeing him take the worst team in the league last year that was further weighed down by the worst player who has gotten significant minutes in the past few seasons to the cusp of a playoffs berth and a .500 season. It should be obvious that he is capable of making even an average team a contender. Indeed we may need to look back at that 2015 team and evaluate just how much better than average it really was without Steph. It's possible he has already taken an average team to a championship.

The lack of faith shown in Curry has been disgraceful. That's why anything less than saying Curry is the best player in the league has me up in arms. This year could have been a strong contending year even without Klay, but because so few thought of Curry in the proper light, that opportunity looks likely to be squandered.

I agree 2015 wasn't a highly talented team at all.

But aren't you showing a lack of faith in Curry by counting him out this year?

[michaelm]

I have been critical of the front office for leaving Curry with such a miserable team for a reason. Same reason I've considered the preoccupation with tanking and draft picks odious.

Stephen Curry is the greatest player in basketball. He always gives you a chance. We are seeing him take the worst team in the league last year that was further weighed down by the worst player who has gotten significant minutes in the past few seasons to the cusp of a playoffs berth and a .500 season. It should be obvious that he is capable of making even an average team a contender. Indeed we may need to look back at that 2015 team and evaluate just how much better than average it really was without Steph. It's possible he has already taken an average team to a championship.

The lack of faith shown in Curry has been disgraceful. That's why anything less than saying Curry is the best player in the league has me up in arms. This year could have been a strong contending year even without Klay, but because so few thought of Curry in the proper light, that opportunity looks likely to be squandered.

You do have a point that wasting a year of Curry’s prime is just that, wasteful. You have never come up with a name or names who would have made them contenders next to Curry who was/were gettable given salary cap constraints and Thompson’s salary sitting on the bench though.

[Mob Byers]

Seemed like his minutes were going up and we kept losing. Oubre out and to the bench has helped too. Just more fluid overall without an inexperienced 19 yo out there. Not exactly surprising or concerning IMO