The Golden State Warriors, winners of 4 NBA championships within the earlier 10 seasons, got here into Friday’s recreation towards the New Orleans Pelicans with an 11-3 document, placing them in first place within the Western Convention.
But loads of folks aren’t positive if they’ve change into true championship contenders as soon as once more.
Kendrick Perkins, the ESPN persona, stated previous to the Warriors’ Emirates NBA Cup group play recreation on Friday that the Warriors are legit championship contenders and even in contrast their excellent play to how rapper Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX has carried out on the charts.
.@KendrickPerkins and Bob Myers consider that Steph Curry can contend for a title this season with Golden State 👀
“The Warriors been poppin’ within the West like Kendrick Lamar’s new album.” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/faMtkfSzZ1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 23, 2024
The Warriors final gained all of it in 2022, however they misplaced within the second spherical of the playoffs the next 12 months, and final 12 months, they didn’t even attain the playoffs.
They misplaced Klay Thompson, one of many foremost pillars of their dynasty, in free company this summer time, and far of their supporting solid across the legendary Stephen Curry seems just a little totally different this season.
However they now sport a deep roster, they usually got here into Friday ranked fifth in offensive ranking and fourth in defensive ranking, and solely the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are averaging extra factors per recreation than them.
One query about whether or not they can preserve what they’ve been doing is who can be their constant second star.
Will it’s Andrew Wiggins, who was an All-Star starter within the 2021-22 season, or may it’s Buddy Hield, the sharpshooter they introduced on this offseason to primarily substitute Thompson?
Hield is averaging 16.5 factors in 24.5 minutes a recreation whereas capturing a career-high 45.1 p.c from 3-point vary to this point this 12 months.
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