Aldridge is key obviously. Lillard has to continue to get better. Hes shows flashes that he can be elite, but its no sure thing. You're set at those two positions. I'd say you're fine at C with Lopez but I say that assuming that LMA is willing to play C for long stretches. I really should't assume that, however, because its something LMA has complained about before. And he just generally is kind of soft. But he certainly has the ability to be great in that role and perhaps he can be sold on it. Leonard has value in his shooting ability as an alternative to Lopez for stints. SG is looking obscure right now. Wes is inured and an impending UFA. I'm not sold on McCollum as a starting SG on a contender. The other middling prospects will likely amount to nothing or fringe rotation guys at best. Batum is also looking like a weak link. But I think you want to keep him because you want players with his defensive ability, athleticism, versatility, ability to switch and guard multiple positions. I'm advocating Aldridge at C for long stretches and Batum would be great as a combo forward type in a smallball lineup like that. I think if thats the plan then the team needs one more big wing or combo forward who can also hit 3's to give them space and adequate overall size. So that could be a target for their backup 4. They need a competent backup PG because McCollum is not to be trusted running the show and Lillard ain't exactly Steve Nash either. Oh and more wing defense and maybe another athletic, defensive PF. Starting 5 overall was good this year but unfortunately we don't know what will happen with Wes, LMA could walk, even if LMA stays isn't Lopez an FA and Lillard soon after? If you want to be a contender LMA has to stay. After that, try to get a competent bench player with the MLE (someone better than Chris Kaman). Will you have cap room when the cap spikes up? Maybe try to get a star wing player, move Batum to the bench. And even if all this happens you'll still probably have to hit on one or two draft picks becoming competent rotation players.
Lillard said he'll resign, but he's a RFA anyway. We have the big combo forward in Dorrell but he hasn't made much of an impact. Well definitly upgrade backup PG, and CJ is perfect as that 6th man spark off the bench. I guess the good thing with Wes is that if he's not playing well we could give some of his minutes to CJ and still start him. Personally I don't see LA at center because Leonard can play their in a pinch, and I think we'll still have to solid legit big men in the team. I think we can keep Kaman and use our MLE for a bigger need. if he underperforms we would give more minutes to Leonard or our starting 5 (maybe Lopez maybe not). I dunno what it looks like from the outside but I think this teams needs guys with more passion, agressiveness, athleticism, and guys that can attack the rim. Our tip 3 big men will miss layins sometimes when they could've easily dunked and the only 2 guys that can attack off the dribble are CJ and Dame. I think that's why people want Batum gone as he plays too conservative at times, looks uninterested and doesn't attack off the dribble to score enough, especially given how athletic he is
I chose 1975 because these Warriors couldn't have beaten Rick Barry, Rookie of the Year Keith Wilkes, and Clifford Ray. Man, is this 2015 Warrior team the crappiest NBA champion of all time or what. In preseason I watched them vs. the Sonics after watching Wilkes for 3 years with Walton at UCLA, and was shocked that Wilkes' new coach Al Attles actually allowed him to dribble. Barry was that year's LeBron James. In case I forget to mention it, this year's champ team really sucks. I'll remind you in 2055 that I was right.
They did it because they caught huge breaks over and over again with other teams key players coming down with huge injuries all the way through the playoffs. The Playoffs are not always about the best team. They are quite often about having a deep team that happens to be very lucky. If the Warriors had sustained even one key injury to either Curry or Thompson they would have been done. If they would have lost Iggy or even Bogut they would have been done also. All four opponents that the Warriors faced had a team altering injury.
They did it because they had the MVP of the league. Sure LeBron is better, but none the less Curry is at least one of the best players in the league. One of the few who can consistently take over a game when needed. A player who demands so much attention that it allows everyone else on the team to excel. The dude is an amazing player to watch. They won because of him. He could not of done it alone, but the rest of the team could not have done it without him. And yes they got lucky with injuries. But they still won 67 regular season games, so it was not all about luck. They have a good deep roster with a good young coach. But if Steph gets hurt next season they do not repeat. No doubt a deep roster and avoiding injuries to your stars are essential. (Steph only missed two games all year. ) But you have to have a closer, and Stephen is one of the best. We have a pretty good one too, so there is hope.
It's true GSW got lucky in that every opponent they played had key players injured. And also that their own team stayed healthy; many of their players had injury histories, including Curry. That being said, EVERY championship requires some luck. Players get hot/cold at the right/wrong time. A play that works a million times doesn't. A miracle shot goes in, right, Damian? A 95% FT shooter misses one. There are thousands of plays and any one goes right/wrong. If it were just being the best, the A's would have taken home the World Series Trophies in 1988 and 1990. A game and a series have so many small components. Had they missed free throws in Game 1 they don't win in OT, they lose. Had they made free throws they win Game 2 without OT. Maybe one call or non call out of thousands had an impact. Give credit. They won. They deserve to celebrate. Even though it's kind of tough being surrounded by it.
Andre igoudala, klay thompson, draymond green, bogut, festus. At least 4 of them are or could be defensive teamers. That's how. Jk. In reality, I think it takes a lot of luck, being healthy, and really damn good. Also helps that steph curry didn't have to guard a half decent player...once...in the playoffs. Including Kyrie who was torching him on one leg. You gotta play whoever shows up to play you. All credit to the Warriors. I want to see what happens next year, before attempting to emulate them. They are bringing almost everyone back supposedly (Run JDM I'm sure knows more). Let's see how the cookie crumbles when you don't have 4 all stars injured (Love, Kyrie, Conley, Holiday), other key players (Varejao, Allen, P Bev, D Mo). I think going small woulda been a little tougher if all teams were healthy, not to take anything away from the Dubs. A strategy that worked is always well deserved.
Here's how they did it: they copied San Antonio. This is true both generally (the way they played all year) and specifically (San Antonio also went small last year against the Heat and reeled of a string of victories to get the title - they did it with Diaw instead of Green). It's not like they'd NEVER played the lineup of Iggy-instead-of-Bogut before - I'm sure if you look up their lineups ranked by minutes together, that lineup was used a lot this year. But also, the reason they could bench Bogut is because the Cavs just couldn't shoot, so they could sag off the three point line and thus prevent drives, and thus didn't need a rim protector. If ANYbody other than LBJ had got hot, it might've hurt them. (Interesting note: Iggy was MVP without being much of a shooter. He's sort of the odd man out for GS in that regard. But he turned out to be great under finals pressure and LIKE the others in that he was super-versatile.)
They were leaving him open or guarding him with Mozgov. He was getting warm-up jumpers, which he hit enough of to bury the Cavs. Basically had no choice other than trying to play Steph and Klay straight up, which isn't exactly a winning strategy either.
Yup. Like I always said, just stack your team with all stars (or in this case the best players in the league) and you'll be competing for the championship. That's usually all that matters. LeBron is the best player in the league and he's been in the finals what, 6 times in a row now?
Funny thing is, I think that the Warriors could return the same lineup next season and, with an injury or two, be in the lower tier of the West. The West is so close and so stacked, health becomes the main factor in who gets to the finals.