Golden State Warriors: 5 Season-defining make or break questions
The Golden State Warriors have five big questions heading into the thick of the season.
Just 16 months ago, the Golden State Warriors were lording it over the league as they conquered the 2022 NBA Finals. If there were any doubts about their viability as title contenders then, Steph Curry and the rest of his crew sent a definitive statement by becoming NBA Champions.
But an entire season has passed, and the Dubs have since been knocked off the summit. While the Warriors haven’t exactly fallen off a cliff as the 2023-24 season gets underway, they have quite a lot of tricky turns to navigate.
The terrain back to the mountaintop is bumpy, and Golden State will have to figure out the best route sooner rather than later. Right now, though, their uphill climb bears the weight of some huge question marks.
5 Season-defining questions for the Golden State Warriors
1. Have They Made up Their Mind on Their Starting Five?
In each of their first two games (a home stand against Phoenix and a trip to Sacramento), the Golden State Warriors began the proceedings with Curry, Thompson, Paul, Wiggins, and Looney. Though this starting five had more than enough star power, it was technically a makeshift lineup as perennial starter Draymond Green recuperated from an ankle injury.
Green ended up reclaiming his starting spot when he made his season debut in Houston on October 29. Playing just under 21 minutes, Green logged four points, five assists, and four turnovers in a 106-95 victory over the Rockets.
With the return of Green — who is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Warriors’ heart and soul — Chris Paul came off the bench for the first time in his 18-year career. Barring injuries and other unforeseen circumstances, will this be the Warriors’ standard operating procedure for the rest of the season? Has the hypercompetitive Point God truly committed to taking a backseat in favor of anchoring the second unit?
The proof is in the pudding, and thus far this season, the Warriors have shown that they can win whether CP3 is starting the game or coming off the bench. It should be noted, however, that the Dubs were 15th in starters’ scoring production last season. That statistic — as well as matchups in which a three-guard lineup could work wonders — might tempt Steve Kerr to revisit his opening night starting five.