Oakland, Calif. • The Golden State Warriors have four All-Stars, all of whom are comfortably among the top 20 players in the NBA. That talent advantage has allowed them to cruise through virtually the entire past two seasons unchallenged, leading to an NBA championship last season and making them overwhelming favorites to win one again this year.
But even as the Warriors have remained in pole position among experts to win a second straight title, they had a roster that, if the right team could push them, and the right breaks went against them, had vulnerabilities that could derail their title run.