Team: Golden State Warriors
GM: AB/AB
HC: Steve Kerr
Motto: "Fit, Flexible, Fun
"
Depth Chart:PG: Eric Bledsoe/ Jeremy Lin/ Devin Harris
SG: Bradley Beal/ Gerald Henderson/ Glenn Robinson III
SF: Justise Winslow/ Doug McDermott/ Brandon Ingram / Quincy Acy
PF: Myles Turner/ Josh McRoberts/ Juan Hernangomez
C: Steven Adams/ Cristiano Felicio
General Team Overview:After a busy few weeks in the CB draft, I’m very happy with how the 2016 CB Golden State Warriors turned out. The team was built in the mold of the GS offense, with semi positionless play, a passing offense, shooting and strong defense. Though this team may not have a top ten superstar, or 4 like the current Warriors, when you look at the sum of the pieces, you see a team that’s greater than its individual parts. The team will be able to attack off the dribble with guards like Bledsoe and Lin, and make space for the sharpshooting Beal, Mcdermott, Turner and the attacking Winslow, Adams, Henderson, and Felicio. On defense, the team features even more flexibility to mix and matches pieces, but also has no real defensive weak spots. By mixing and matching players, the team can ensure every position is defended adequately, and elite rim protection affords the wing players some extra comfort in going after passing lanes to create easy points/
This team has the talent to compete right now, and with an average starting lineup age of under 23, with some of the top prospects coming off the bench, is also the team with the most potential to succeed going forward.
Starting Lineup and Key Contributors:Eric BledsoePosition: PG Height: 6’ 1” Weight: 205 lb
Team: Phoenix Suns Age: 26 Experience: 6 years Number: 2
Dubbed Mini-Lebron early in his career, Bledsoe is a dynamic point guard who attack defenses, hounds opposing guards and will be the ball dominant leader of this team. In the GSW offense, Bledsoe will act as the catalyst, driving to the rim to open space for Beal, Turner McDermott, Ingram and Winslow, and also running devastating pick and rolls with Adams,Felicio and Turner. On defense his combination of speed and strength allow him to keep up with anyone.
Bradley BealPosition: SG Height: 6’ 5 ” Weight: 207 lb
Team: Washington Wizards Age: 23 Experience: 4 years Number: 3
The young sweet stroking guard is the perfect 2 in the Golden State offense. Similar to his RL setup with John Wall, beal will be able to focus on knocking down 3s and breaking down the defense after Bledsoe gets into the paint.
Justise WinslowPosition: SF/PF Height: 6’ 7” Weight: 225 lb
Team: Miami Heat Age: 20 Experience: 1 year Number: 20
The man the Celtics offered the farm for, Justise Winslow is already a dominating defensive presence and the starting SF in Miami. His goal on this team will be to smother opposing wings with his size and strength, while attacking the basket again with hard cuts after Bledsoe draws the big man, or off of a Bledsoe-Turner ⅕ pick and pop. His shooting is still a work in progress, but he has the form to succeed and will be managed according to his strengths
Myles TurnerPosition: PF/C Height:6’ 11” Weight: 243 lb
Team: Indiana Pacers Age: 20 Experience: 1 Number: 33
Another young guy who has already established himself as an NBA starter, Myles Turner is the prototype for modern big men. With his long frame and quick feet, he has shown the ability to stay with guys on the perimeter when needed, while also being a dominant rim protector and an outside threat. He will be devastating in P&R or p&p opportunities with Bledsoe/Lin, and also form a powerful twin towers defensive front with my final starter….
Steven AdamsPosition: C Height: 7’ 0” Weight: 245 lb
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder Age: 23 Experience: 3 years Number: 12
One of the only pieces in the James Harden trade to actually pay off, Steven Adams truly emerged this postseason. A powerful rebounder and finished, Adams can anchor a defense and make the hard picks necessary to get the offense going. Playing in a Bogut 2.0 role in the GS scheme, Adams is a natural fit, and will help GS Boss the boards.
Jeremy LinPosition: PG Height: 6’ 3” Weight: 200 lb
Team: Brooklyn Nets Age: 27 Experience: 6 years Number: 7
No longer just known for his Linsanity experience in NY, Jeremy Lin has proven himself to be a legitimate and talented point guard in this league. After learning to limit his turnovers. Lin could easily be a starting PG in this league, however he will be asked to run the second unit for GS, and fill in if there are injuries to the starting lineup. His flexibility to play either with Beal Or Bledsoe makes him even more important to the squad
Doug McDermottPosition: SF/PF Height: 6’ 8” Weight: 225 lb
Team: Chicago Bulls Age: 24 Experience: 2 years Number: 13
The sweet shooting college superstar, Dougie Mcbuckets proves his shooting still translated to the NBA last season, knocking down 3s at one of the best percentages in the league. More than just a shooter, Doug shower the ability to put the ball on the floor and use his wide array o offensive skills to get those buckets. On the defensive end, he may not be able to handle the leagues top offensive wings, but he has established himself as a capable player and will be partnered with a wing stopper in most lineups
Josh McRobertsPosition: PF Height: 6’ 10” Weight: 240 lb
Team: Miami Heat Age: 29 Experience: 9 years Number: 4
McRoberts is and under appreciated talent in this league. Injuries have plagued his last few seasons, however he has shown when playing to be an excellent passer from either post, and has decent range as well. Now that he's expected to be healthy and Bosh May not play, I expect McRoberts to be a key contributor and again is a great fit in the Golden state offense
Bench and Prospects:Brandon IngramThe number two pick in this years draft has a sweet offensive skill set and while he won't be pressed for minutes this early, he has the potential to be a game changing offensive force soon.
Juan HernangomezAnother rookie, Hernangomez has shown the ability to drain threes in Europe and as he develops will help offer even more positional flexibility to this already Fluid team
Cristiano FelicioA relatively unknown rookie last year for the Chicago Bulls, Felicio showcased a strong body and soft hands late in the season and channeled it into a spot on the Brazil team. I expect him to continue to grow this season.
Devin HarrisA strong veteran presence on the bench, Harris will be a calming influence for the younger guys on the team, while still contributing as guard depth. He is here for his experience, but also will be able to chip in and get some minutes
Gerald HendersonAnother seeming underrated asset, Henderson will be the starting shooting guard in Philly this year, and I am thrilled to have him on my bench. Not known as a great shooter, Henderson shot 35% last season from 3, and offers hard cutting and great BBIQ. He also is athletic enough to play solid defense when he’s in.
Quincy AcyA hard nosed competitor, Acy gives golden state the grit and grind needed to be a top contender. His ferocity translates across the team and he's shown some shooting ability too
Glenn Robinson IIIIn situations last year when GR3 made it on the floor, he looked like he had all the pieces to be an NBA player. He's buried right now in GS, but an expected breakout would move him up in the rotation
Rotations and Situational Matchups:Rotations:BasicPG: Bledsoe (30) / Lin (12) / Harris ( 6)
SG: Beal (30) / Henderson (12) / Lin (6)
SF: Winslow (22 ) / McDermott (18 ) / Ingram (
PF: Turner (25) / McRoberts (8 ) / Winslow (8 ) / McDermott (7)
C: Adams (29) / Felicio (10) / Turner (9)
Additional: Acy, Hernangomez, GR3
PlayoffsPG: Bledsoe (35) / Lin (13)
SG: Beal (33) / Lin (10)/ Henderson (5)
SF: Winslow (28)/ McDermott (20)
PF: Turner (25) /McDermott (10) / Winslow (5) / McRoberts (
C: Adams (35) / Felicio (5) / Turner (
Additional: Harris, Acy, Hernangomez, Ingram, GR3
BigPG: Bledsoe
SG: Henderson
SF: Winslow
PF: Turner
C: Adams
SmallPG: Bledsoe
SG: Beal
SF: Winslow
PF: McDermott
C: Turner
ShootingPG: Bledsoe/Lin
SG: Beal
SF: Ingram/McDermott
PF: McDermott / Hernangomez
C: Turner
DefensePG: Bledsoe
SG: Henderson
SF: Winslow
PF: Turner
C: Adams
Draft Notes:Trades:Golden St. trades Andre Drummond, 5.8, 11.8
NY Knicks trade 2.18, 3.18, 10.13
Brooklyn Nets trade 2.24, 3.24, 4.7, 5.22
Golden State Warriors trade 2.8, 4.23, 7.8, 12.23, 2 TPs
Memphis trades Bradley Beal, 10.11
Golden St. trades 3.08 and 8.23
Golden State sends: Brandon Bass
Charlotte sends: Cristiano Felicio, Devin Harris
Thoughts:- Traded back aggressively from my first spot to gain depth, picking 5 times within the first 3 rounds.
- May have jumped a bit too early on Brandon Ingram who is down in my rotation. Happy to have a player with his potential, but was unsure my team would be able to compete as well as they are when I went for youth.
- Loved my deep pick-ups (Felicio, Harris, Henderson, Acy, GR3). All of them are real contributors and think they help bolster an already strong lineup
Strengths:Fluidity: The team was drafted to be able to play multiple different styles. In the new mold of “positionless basketball” the team can shift and play anything from lockdown defense, to raining threes. Matching perfectly with Coach Kerr’s philosophy, this team can find a weakness in another team and exploit
Youth: The starting lineup has an average age of 22.4 going into the season. While youth is not always the best way to go, all of these players have significant roles on their teams and the youngest players (Turner/Winslow) both showed they can play on the Big™ stage in the NBA playoffs. These players are all poise
Fit: The pieces work well with their partners. The two guards fit well together and can offer different skills, the Turner/Adams combination offers every big man skill imaginable
Weaknesses:Experience: With youth comes inexperience. Most players have been to the playoffs, but not many have sniffed an NBA championship
Injuries: Eric Bledsoe and Bradley Beal both have legitimate injury concerns over . To counter this, the team has capable backups in Lin, Harris and Henderson, each of whom could start.
Stars: The team has no clear alpha dog. The sum is greater than the parts, but sometimes one big part is all a team needs.
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