Is a healthy Golden State team a contender ?

[Bosstown]

Watching this team right now has been really fun, to think that GS could of had Curry AND Harden in the backcourt...man I would of loved to see that. All GS would have had to really give up was Klay and some filler, but GS didn't want to pay the luxury tax.

That team most likely would of been a contender in a few years.

[cons]

If Lebron has a season ending injury then yes. but thats the key for just about everyone to be a contender. for like the next few years.

[fairweatherfan]

With the Lakers' dream team falling apart and the Thunder losing Harden, the West seems like it's wide open for the next few years. 

If Bogut can stay effective and relatively healthy, they've got a shot to win the West in the next couple years.  Lot of nice role players to supplement their best guys. 

But I don't think they have the wing defense to hang with the Heat.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I believe they are.

If Bogut is 100% and is in game shape, he'll be more imposing than he is right now. He's still moving like he's out of breathe and slower, but even that doesnt stop him from owning the boards (14 rpg this series plus the missed tip ins and tip outs). And that bring problems against Miami.

And if there's anyone who can go toe to toe in scoring against Miami it'll be the Dubs. A hobbled Steph Curry can still manage to score 22 against Danny Green's and Kawhi Leonard's defense. Klay Thompson will hit shots. They got Barnes and Draymond Green who will defend LeBron James and slow him down even just a little bit, as they are as physical as they come. The Warriors have inside presence with Landry and Bogut that would be really helpful.

I think the matchups against Miami would be just fine. And they beat them already once, w/o Bogut, in Miami. They can beat them.

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

[indeedproceed]

I think if Lee was out there they'd actually be worse. A healthy 100% Bogut and a healthy 100% Curry for me does come close to putting them into contender status. The problem is that it doesn't really bring them close to being able to hang with Miami. Its not so much a talent thing (although that's part of it) as it is a matchup thing.

They've got 1 guy in Draymond Green who I think could pester LeBron on paper, but in the two games LeBron played against the GSW this year Green didn't really get it job done. Harrison Barnes has been a boon to the Warriors all year and especially in the playoffs, but he's nowhere near strong enough to defend LeBron, even if he does match up well height and length-wise.

Then you have Dwyane Wade. The Warriors have a guy in Jarret Jack who should be able to give Wade some issues, again on paper, but again there isn't much if any evidence in practice of this occuring.

Finally there is Chris Bosh. Bogut likely isn't quick enough to check Bosh, no matter how savvy the Aussie is on defense. Festus Ezeli can't check Bosh either.

It is just a nightmare matchup for Golden State. They can be legitimate contenders, and matchup well with everyone else in the league, but they don't match up with Miami.

[indeedproceed]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

[KCattheStripe]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

More like Comparing CP3 to Mike Conley Jr. but the point is still good.

[indeedproceed]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

More like Comparing CP3 to Mike Conley Jr. but the point is still good.

The reason I made the comparison is because LeBron does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Leonard is at this point just a good offensive role-player and defensive specialist.

Harden does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Thompson at this point is a good offensive role-player, and good if sometimes inconsistent defender.

[KCattheStripe]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

More like Comparing CP3 to Mike Conley Jr. but the point is still good.

The reason I made the comparison is because LeBron does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Leonard is at this point just a good offensive role-player and defensive specialist.

Harden does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Thompson at this point is a good offensive role-player, and good if sometimes inconsistent defender.

He's better than an offensive role player. And the gap between Lebron and Leonard is disproportionately wider than the gap between Harden and  Thompson.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

Im sorry but I did not see James Harden be this "above average" defender this season.

Plus, it'll be the Monta Ellis syndrome all over again if Harden was in Golden State. He'll take away the shots from Steph.

[SHAQATTACK]

not in the league with the HEAT .  LBJ is Curry plus the best defense in the league.....Lebron is KING ,   until he suffers and injury ...... its his league  and his rings to loose

[indeedproceed]

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

More like Comparing CP3 to Mike Conley Jr. but the point is still good.

The reason I made the comparison is because LeBron does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Leonard is at this point just a good offensive role-player and defensive specialist.

Harden does everything (score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend) on an above-average or elite level, while Thompson at this point is a good offensive role-player, and good if sometimes inconsistent defender.

He's better than an offensive role player. And the gap between Lebron and Leonard is disproportionately wider than the gap between Harden and  Thompson.

Actually,

LeBron's rank by PER among SF's: 1
Leonard's: 17

LeBron's rank by EWA: 1
Leonard's: 17

Harden's rank by PER among SG's: 3
Thompson's: 40

Harden's rank by EWA: 2
Thompson's: 23

There's no question that LeBron is better than Harden, but Leonard is also better than Thompson.

And the gap between LeBron and Leonard is not disproportionately wider if you consider them by position. Yeah, LeBron is the best SF in the world (and the best player), but Harden is the either the best SG in the world or the second best, and Thompson is a fairly long distance behind him.

And if you wanted to look at the nitty-gritty, LeBron's EWA is 5.6 times Leonard's (30.3 compared to 5.4) while Harden's is 5.8 times Klay Thompson's.

And I'm glad that they did not give up Klay for Harden. The way Thompson is playing defense, whew, I'll take it over Harden anyday.

Yoki I love your enthusiasm but I just can't see how that's a position anyone, including GSW's brass, would take today.

Harden was the best shooting guard in basketball this year, and is an above average defender. Comparing him to Klay Thompson is like comparing LeBron James to Kawhi Leonard.

Im sorry but I did not see James Harden be this "above average" defender this season.

Well, Harden had a better defensive rating, and defensive win-shares for the season, if that'll help.

Plus, it'll be the Monta Ellis syndrome all over again if Harden was in Golden State. He'll take away the shots from Steph.

I think this is another fallacy. James Harden's assist ratio is 18.7 (one of the highest among starters, and even more impressive due to his shot volume), and his offensive rating is 10 full points higher than Thompson's. Thompson however has an 11.9 assist ratio.

GSW also typically scored better this season when there was a backcourt of Curry and Jack with either Barnes or Thompson at the 3 than they did with a backcourt of Curry and Thompson. The reason? Better ball movement with Jack out there to facilitate Curry, Thompson, Barnes, and Lee's FGA's.

I don't see any reason why a Curry/Harden backcourt wouldn't work out just fine.

[KCattheStripe]

The win share difference between Thompson and Leonard is skewed because of how much of a better regular season the Spurs had than the Warriors. And the top end of SMS in the NBA is much deeper than the top end of sgs while the middle ground for sgs is packed and the mid level for sgs is fairly diluted.

[indeedproceed]

K-Cat, I think you messed up some of those acronyms.

[KCattheStripe]

K-Cat, I think you messed up some of those acronyms.

Still adjusting to my new iPad.