The Warriors 2012-2013 season was a Cinderella story. A team that’s been an underdog for years made it all the way to the Western Conference Semi-Finals before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six games. After last year’s impressive playoff run, this season expectations are high in the Bay Area for the first time in almost two decades.
The Warriors have assembled one of the league’s best starting lineups – let’s take a look at what makes this team so formidable:
Stephen Curry (PG)
Dubbed “the baby-faced assassin”, this rising star made a name for himself during the second half of last season and the postseason. After the All-Star roster came out without Curry’s name on it, he proved to the NBA and fans around the world why he definitely is All-Star material.
Curry is a top-five PG and a top-15 player entering this upcoming season—last year he broke Ray Allen’s NBA single-season three-point record by draining 272 three-pointers and became the only player in the NBA with 250 three-pointers and 500 assists in a single season.
To say that the 25 year-old point guard has proven himself worthy of being an All-Star would be an understatement.
One thing to watch out for this season is Curry’s notorious ankles. The 6’3”, 185-pound guard has a history of ankle injuries, but after having multiple ankle surgeries, he’s said that they should no longer be a problem.
Warriors fans could see two Currys on the court this year with the Warriors’ acquisition of Curry’s younger brother, Seth.
Klay Thompson (SG)
Klay Thompson might have overslept and missed the team bus in China, but he’s still one of the Warriors’ most important players. Coach Mark Jackson hasn’t decided whether he’s going to start Klay Thompson or if he’ll start Harrison Barnes, although with Barnes’ recent foot injury Thompson’s chances are better (at least at the beginning of the year).
Thompson is one of the best shooters in the NBA. With Stephen Curry playing alongside him, they make up the best shooting backcourt in the NBA. Thompson is also an underrated defender, and he’s one of the better defensive SGs in the league.
At only 23 years old, Thompson is entering his third year in the NBA. He’s still a developing player and has a lot to work on, but he is a vital player when it comes to the Warriors’ success.
Andre Iguodala (SG/SF)
The Warriors signed the former All-Star to a four-year, $48 million contract in early July. “Iggy” will either be starting at shooting guard or small forward. Warriors fans experienced his high-energy play during the Warriors matchup with the Denver Nuggets—Iguodala’s previous team—in the first round of last season’s playoffs.
Iguodala is one of the most versatile players in the NBA. At 6’6” and 207 pounds, he is able to play both shooting guard and small forward—and he’s a top-five player at both positions. He has an explosive first step, which allows him to blow by defenders, create shots for his teammates, create his own shot and rebound the ball. With his experience and versatility, Iguodala will be able to take some of the responsibility off of Stephen Curry.
David Lee (PF)
All-Star David Lee underwent hip surgery during the offseason to repair a torn right hip flexor—an injury that limited his minutes during the playoffs. He has stated that he is fully recovered and feels no side effects from the surgery, and so far things look great—he scored 31 points against the Lakers in Beijing.
Lee is a critical player in the Warriors’ attempts to advance further into the playoffs this year. For a power forward, Lee has exceptional ball-handling skills, and he’s one of the most tenacious rebounders in the game. He’s able to find his teammates and make plays for them—he averages 3.5 assists per game.
Last year Lee ranked fifth in the NBA in rebounding and led the league in double-doubles. He’s already a very good player, but with the improved squad around him Lee will need to raise his game to help his team reach the next level.
Andrew Bogut (C)
Bogut has assured us once again that he is “100 percent”. With a lingering back injury that caused him to exit the Warriors’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers in China, that doesn’t seem to be the case any longer.
The Warriors’ center is known to be injury prone, but that doesn’t make him any less important than his fellow starters. The 7’0” Australian proved how important he was during the Warriors’ playoff run.
He isn’t one of the top five centers in the NBA anymore, but Bogut’s presence on the court is vital to the Warriors’ success. The Warriors did remarkably well last season with an injured Bogut. Now that he’s healthy, this season can only be better. We all saw what Bogut is capable of against the Denver Nuggets—he was an elite big man, at least until his body failed him once again against the San Antonio Spurs.
This season, the Warriors absolutely need Bogut to stay healthy, especially considering that backup center Festus Ezeli is out until at least December after his offseason knee surgery. New additions Marreese Speights, Jermaine O’Neal and Ognjen Kuzmic don’t measure up to either Ezeli or Bogut on the court.
6thMan - Harrison Barnes (SF)
Harrison Barnes is the youngest starter for the Warriors. At just 21 years old, he is a remarkable player. It’s highly likely that Barnes will be coming off of the bench, but without the pressure of starting, Barnes can focus on perfecting his game and reaching his full potential.
Barnes had a breakout year as a rookie. He had a decent regular season, but he exploded in the playoffs, averaging 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 38.4 minutes per game. It seemed like Klay Thompson was going to slide into the sixth man role with Iguodala’s arrival, but due to Barnes’ recent foot injury it seems like the sophomore will start the year as the Warriors’ sixth man.
The Warriors are young and still developing into an elite team. They have one of the best starting fives in the NBA, and as the season progresses we’ll start to get a better sense of whether or not they can legitimately challenge for an NBA title.
Do you want to "get to know" the new Warriors? Follow the links below:
Get to know your Warriors: Andre Iguodala
Get to know your Warriors: Seth Curry
Get to know your Warriors: Toney Douglas
Get to know your Warriors: Jermaine O'Neal
Get to know your Warriors: Marreese Speights
Get to know your Warriors: Nemanja Nedovic
Get to know your Warriors: Ognjen Kuzmic
Get to know your Warriors: Dewayne Dedmon
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