Will the Warriors win the West with a healthy Klay?

[Impuniti]

Im so lost.

Yall called it a G league roster ALL DAMN YEAR....but adding Klay to it makes it a contender??? Is he the real MVP?

Adding Bjelica, Otto Porter, Iguodala, a matured Poole, and yes Klay Thompson....in place of Bazemore, Oubre, Wanamaker, Nico Mannion, and Mychal Mulder, will make a team better.

I don’t see a big difference between the two minus a healthy Klay and better Poole.

Wattaburger, Mulder are garbage-tier players, Mannion is just a number, Oubre was a colossal moron. The only positive player from those is Bazemore. Others were in most games, actively playing against the Warriors.

[Duke4life831]

I mean will they win? I dont know, but will they be one of the favorites? Ya.

Klay by himself may not be a guy that can carry an offense, but Klay in this offense is a massive threat. Klay is as good as it gets when it comes to offense without the ball. You're adding a top 5 shooter all time to go alongside Curry, that is extremely hard to stop.

Add in they're one of the better defensive teams in the NBA and they have a legit bench this year. Again will they win? I dont know, I dont think they will be seen as these big time heavy favorites. But I do think they will be viewed as one of the best teams in the West. We already know what a Curry/Klay/Green trio with a good rotation surrounding them can look like.

[3toheadmelo]

they have andrew wiggins so no

[Catchall]

The Clippers are a better team than the Warriors. Steph isn't going to go off for 45 points every night, and that's what the Ws needed to hold off the Clippers by 2 pts.

I think the Warriors are in the 5 - 7 seed range along with the Mavs and Lakers. The top 4 teams in the WC by seed should be the Jazz, Nuggets, Suns and one of the LA teams. As a Jazz fan, I think the scariest team in the WC is the Nuggets.

[DonaldSanders]

Adding Bjelica, Otto Porter, Iguodala, a matured Poole, and yes Klay Thompson....in place of Bazemore, Oubre, Wanamaker, Nico Mannion, and Mychal Mulder, will make a team better.

I don’t see a big difference between the two minus a healthy Klay and better Poole.

Me either. They yapped about G League all damn year.
pascal is also gone

We're bringing back 2 key pieces this year of all the recent championship runs, 40% of the death lineup. Andre doesn't look like toast here, he looks good. Klay may not be fully himself but like an older Andre he knows the system and will take pressure off of Steph. On top of 40% of the death lineup coming back we replaced one of the worst acquisitions the Warriors have had in Oubre. The Warriors were worse with him on the court, we used that money for good instead with Bjelica/Porter.

Last year's team was pretty awful minus Curry, throw your hero LeBron out there and he isn't going anywhere either. This year's team is definitely different.

[HiRez]

The Clippers are a better team than the Warriors. Steph isn't going to go off for 45 points every night, and that's what the Ws needed to hold off the Clippers by 2 pts.

I think the Warriors are in the 5 - 7 seed range along with the Mavs and Lakers. The top 4 teams in the WC by seed should be the Jazz, Nuggets, Suns and one of the LA teams. As a Jazz fan, I think the scariest team in the WC is the Nuggets.

Neither will:

-- Poole shoot 29% every night
-- Wiggins shoot 40% every night
-- Bjelica + Porter only take 8 shots (and 1 3 pointer) every night
-- Warriors turn the ball over 21 times every night

You want to say the Warriors played an amazing game and that's the only thing that gave them an edge that's not repeatable. But actually they played far from the best game they're capable of despite Curry's 45, in fact is was pretty horrific at times. And later in the year Moody will be a solid contributor, he's not there yet though.

Clippers didn't play their best game either, but I disagree that they are "the better team". Overall I think these teams are pretty well matched, I think the Warriors at the best beat the Clippers at their best but I don't think it's runaway dominance for either one.

[DroseReturnChi]

he hasnt played basketball in 3 yrs and that much older. even if klay was 100% healthy he is going to be 70% effective from prime.

[Hoopstar23]

he hasnt played basketball in 3 yrs and that much older. even if klay was 100% healthy he is going to be 70% effective from prime.

him being on the floor makes Curry even more dangerous, teams still have to respect Klay shooting. You can't double or triple-team Curry like teams were doing last year... opens driving lanes for Wiggins, easy lobs for Wiseman, Looney etc

[MindState]

Warriors are probably the best team in the west. Especially if the Lakers cant get it together with their old and badly put together roster.

Every other team is either a pretender or injured. Jazz have choked multiple years in a row, and the Nuggets and Clippers both have stars who are out for the season.

[Openheimer]

Clippers will easily win the west when Kawhi returns

[MindState]

Clippers will easily win the west when Kawhi returns

Why do you feel that way after whats happened the last two years? Clippers have been a laughing stock. They continue to flame out in the playoffs despite having a contending level roster.

[MindState]

they have andrew wiggins so no

Hes a 4th or 5th option. Hardly someone the Warriors are depending on once everyone is healthy.

[FNQ]

Wow the pendulum has swung mightily in the past couple days.

I'd say this thread is more reasonable than the ones implying that the team had no chance to make noise as contenders this year, but still a bit too far. That said, we havent played particularly well the past 2 games, and are 2-0 against teams that are likely playoff locks. We're a pretty good team without Klay. When Klay returns, we will be much better. But I dont think he'll return in enough time to really skew the regular season much, and there will be pains acclimating him to players he's never played extended minutes with before (Poole, Wiggins, OPJ, Nemo, Moody)

[Openheimer]

Clippers will easily win the west when Kawhi returns

Why do you feel that way after whats happened the last two years? Clippers have been a laughing stock. They continue to flame out in the playoffs despite having a contending level roster.

They were far better in the playoffs last season. Did not fold under pressure and matured .Had Kawhi not been injured they would have the west just this past season

[Roscoe Sheed]

Clippers will easily win the west when Kawhi returns

Why do you feel that way after whats happened the last two years? Clippers have been a laughing stock. They continue to flame out in the playoffs despite having a contending level roster.

true in the bubble- no excuse for blowing that 3-1 lead, but they were far from a laughing stock in the playoffs last season- they came back from 2-0 down twice and the 2nd time without their best player vs the team with the best record in the NBA.

[Tor_Raps]

I think I answered this last week but Warriors can win the West of Klay comes back AND they trade their youth (Wiseman/Moody/Kuminga) for an impact win now player.

[jlokine]

win the west? no.. top 4, probably.

[DroseReturnChi]

Warriors have a better supporting cast compared to the last 2 seasons.

People laugh at how their offseason additions were minimum guys like Iguodala, Bjelica and Porter Jr. but sometimes you don't need to add superstars to make a huge difference on your team.

Warriors needed shooters who can hit open shots, and vet experience. They added that now. Last season, the team could get open shots but couldn't make them aside from Steph. This season, Porter Jr and Bjelica can just stand in the corner and hitting an open 3 makes a world of a difference. On top of that, both guys fit in the system perfectly because they know how to move the ball around. On other teams both Porter Jr and Bjelica couldn't excel due to either injuries or they weren't in the right system, but in Kerr's offense they're perfect.

Not to mention Iguodala is back. Obviously not a scorer, but he adds that experience the team lacked off the bench the past 2 seasons--he knows the system like the back of his hand and serves as the vet playmaker.

Then there's the young guys who are getting better. Jordan Poole is better this year by default simply because he has more experience now.

So much better compared to last season when Steph played with an injured G-League team with rarely any experience, Kelly Oubre Jr. providing nothing on offense, and Steph himself getting injured with his tailbone injury (GSW would have at least been 5th or 6th seed if Steph wasn't hurt.)

All in all, there's definitely Top 3 seed potential from Golden State, even without Klay. The team is deeper and more experienced and Steph isn't slowing down. That's all I'll say for now and it will be interesting to bump this thread midseason and then after the regular season. See you guys then.

still pretty much excuses. improvement to fit steph but nonetheless these guys are all 15th men vet min guys you dont rise 8 spots for marginal upgrades. i dont think healthy klay exists but for sake of argument 90% klay playing 30 games jump from playin team to top 4 is laughable. west is weak than ever but not that bad warriors are level of dallas mavericks good enough to avoid playins.

unless i see warriors make franchise move like upgrading green to simmons, they should not make top 4 in 90% of the 2k scenario. they are 2-0 but thats more of a fluke not proving why they are elite title contenders. poole needs more help with steph likely playing worse than last yrs scoring title and all the rookies sucking like g leaguers.

[Warriorfan]

Warriors have one of the best chances to improve during the city. Young talented lottery picks plus addition of Klay.

Iggy, Porter and Bjelinca added depth .

[AingesBurner]

They are probably 5-6 depending on how the Mavs and Lakers do. Anyone thinking Klay is going to come in and kick butt are kidding themselves, he’s likely back into playing shape next season.