The Golden State Warriors won their first title in 40 years by knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers, and are the favorites to repeat as NBA champions. Here are four reasons why they're guaranteed to do just that in the 2015-16 season:
4) Continued sacrifice from role players
Golden State went from being a really good team to a great team this year largely due to the sacrifices that players like Andre Iguodala, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut made. All three players gave up either a spot in the starting lineup or sacrificed major minutes for the betterment of the team, but now that they've experienced success, they may want bigger roles, hurting team chemistry. Lee is now a Celtic, but Bogut, Iguodala, and Festus Ezeli will have to continue to imprace supporting roles for Golden State to reach their full potential.
3) Steve Kerr's second season
Kerr had the most successful rookie coaching season in NBA history, and he'll undoubtedly have a much better grasp of things in his second go around. Better coaching means a better team - a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
2) Improvement from Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Harrison Barnes
The success of this trio was the biggest reason why the Warriors were able to win 67 games last season, but they faded into the backgroud for most of the Finals. As most of the contenders in the Western Conference got better, the Warriors have kept essentially the same roster. In order for Golden State to improve, these three guys must continue to progress.
1) Stephen Curry's greatness
Curry took a giant step forward in his progression this season on his way to winning the MVP, and that catapulted the Warriors to another level. He's one of the most unstoppable offensive players in the league, and his development as a leader was a major factor in Golden State's championship run. As long as he can stay healthy, the Warriors will be able to rely on his playmaking ability and clutch shooting to carry them through the tough Western Conference again in 2016.
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