Is a healthy Golden State team a contender ?

[masteremile123]

I'm watching the San antonio vs Golden state series and I can't help but to think that golden state with a healthy David lee (and stephen curry) would have swept this series. So what do you guys think ?

[bfrombleacher]

Maybe next year since I heard Lee is not himself. They'll have to bank on Bogut then.

I hope they stay healthy. It would suck if they didn't.

But yes they would be from what I've heard and from the little I've seen.

In the playoffs, coaching actually plays a role. The game to game adjustments by Doc in previous seasons is overlooked around here.

I'm guessing that the one set they run (along with iso-Bron) is being exposed by Thibs and the Bulls. LeBron is playing 40 minutes a game against a Bulls squad that's so incredibly shorthanded.

[Celtics4ever]

No, they are not, playing a aging team does not make you a contender.   Curry is very frail and they are one injury away from disaster.

[Celticsbloke]

I agree, the fragility of Curry and Bogut is the concern for this Warriors team. Talent and balance wise, they have the potential to contend next year when Lee is healthy again.

This season they are doing very well and could still beat the Spurs, but in the end no Lee is going to cost them. They need him to play centre at the end of games when Bogut can't be on the floor because of his poor free throw shooting.

Also, while Bogut gives them much of the defensive toughness Warriors teams have lacked for so long, he is still below peak fitness and mobility and can be exploited in the pick and pop. Duncan has been racking up the points on Bogut for this reason. 

[scaryjerry]

They're better without David lee, so no

[saltlover]

Absolutely they are.  They've got two scorers who can take the game over at any time, who are both still getting better as players, and some other complimentary pieces.  Jackson is a good coach, too.  Although I fear for Curry playing against Wade in the finals, as Wade will probably pull some dirty move to injure his already fragile ankles.

[pearljammer10]

If they were completely healthy this current year I would still say no.

But next year, after a year of playoff experience and playing in big games I would have to say yes.

Curry is fragile but he is the best shooter the league has seen in quite sometime. I mean, I have never seen one of his three pointers hit the rim, its absolutely insane.

Curry and Thomas make a great offensive back court together, Barnes is already a good player and he should be even better next year, with Lee and Bogut both healthy downlow, that provides a pretty tough duo underneath. Jack is a great back up point and I hope they can resign him, Landry is a good spark off the bench. If they can add one more legit threat off the bench they could easily be up there near the Thunder and I could see a top 4 West finish for them next season.

[Roy H.]

They're a contender in so far as that they could come out of the West this year.

I don't think they'd have any shot against Miami, though.  I don't think they have the defense to slow down Lebron.

[pearljammer10]

They're a contender in so far as that they could come out of the West this year.

I don't think they'd have any shot against Miami, though.  I don't think they have the defense to slow down Lebron.

I think this is true but I also dont think they could beat a healthy Thunder team yet.

[TripleOT]

They're a contender, as long as Curry and Bogut stay reasonably healthy.  And they match up with Miami as well as anyone else in the league.  They have three guys to throw on LeBron, in Barnes, Draymond Green, and little used Richard Jefferson.  That's 18 fouls, and Green has shown that he more than willing to get in LBJ's face.

Lee needs to get healthy for them to  have a true chance to beat Miami.  They beat Miami in Miami  early in the year with Curry, by two on a late Green bucket, but lost badly later at home, sans Curry and Bogut.

As I mentioned in another thread,  if they had the ballls  to pull off the Pierce for Harrison Barnes and Biedrins deal at the deadline, they'd  be a lot better positioned for a title  right now.   They don't have a closer and they don't run any half court offense out of anyone but their PG. PP could hav been perfect for them t he next three years, now that they're a title contender.  And yes they would have given up a nice long term asset, but even  if Barnes developed into an all star, they can't have all three starting littles making max or near max money. Add Pierce's half court offense, three point shooting and leadership  to this team, and look out.     

[action781]

Why are people are saying no b/c of health/injury concerns?  The premise of the thread is that the GS team is healthy...

My concern is also Miami.  Steph curry has shown to be incredible so far... but my concern is what if Miami puts Lebron on him.  Thinking of that takes me back to when D-Rose tore up the NBA in 2011 and then Miami put Lebron on Rose in the 4th quarter toward the end of the series and just absolutely shut him down. 

GS does have other players capable of stepping up though...  I think it's generally narcissistic (not the perfect word, but can't get the right one out) for common people to rule out professional teams as "not being contenders" unless they are truly awful teams.  So, I'm going to say, sure, they could possibly contend for a title.  They just need their role players to play well which I think they've shown to be capable of.  I still won't put my money on them though.

[KCattheStripe]

Not sure, even with Lee, they have enough answers for the Grizzlies. If they had Pierce instead of Barnes though, absolutely.

[hpantazo]

Not sure, even with Lee, they have enough answers for the Grizzlies. If they had Pierce instead of Barnes though, absolutely.

Barnes stepped up big time last night, and is only going to get better. Pierce has struggled significantly the last two years in the playoffs. I'm not sure swapping the two would make GS that much better. Barnes right now has the speed and athleticism to get to the basket and get his shot off when defenses tighten, Pierce doesn't.

[KCattheStripe]

Not sure, even with Lee, they have enough answers for the Grizzlies. If they had Pierce instead of Barnes though, absolutely.

Barnes stepped up big time last night, and is only going to get better. Pierce has struggled significantly the last two years in the playoffs. I'm not sure swapping the two would make GS that much better. Barnes right now has the speed and athleticism to get to the basket and get his shot off when defenses tighten, Pierce doesn't.

Barnes shot 9 for 26 and made some big plays down the stretch. Pierce can still do that.

[action781]

I'm really excited to see how this team improves going forward.  Lot of young players with their best days still ahead of them on the team and the starting 5 is locked up into at least next season.