Warriors' Blueprint to Make Deep Run in 2023 NBA Playoffs

It feels a little generous to put the Golden State Warriors in the NBA championship discussion.

After all, they have a single-digit road victory total and, entering Wednesday, sit just 15th in net efficiency rating, per NBA.com.

Then again, they are the defending champs, and as long as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are healthy, it feels foolish to put anything past this team.

But this team needs to make major strides if it hopes to defend its crown. Checking off the following three boxes would be a great place to start.

Get Andrew Wiggins Back

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before the game against the Washington Wizards at Chase Center on February 13, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

So, this is tricky to talk about for a couple of reasons. First, we have no idea what the personal matter is that has kept Andrew Wiggins sidelined since mid-February. Second, it's not something the Warriors control. Finally, the most important part of all of this is that Wiggins is OK. Clearly, he's dealing with something that's bigger than basketball.

If we can awkwardly transition back to a basketball conversation now, though, Golden State isn't making a championship run without Wiggins. It wouldn't be the defending champs without him, as his support scoring and shutdown on-ball defense were invaluable parts of this team's championship recipe last year.

The Dubs don't have anyone who can mask his absence. While a healthy Gary Payton II would at least give Golden State better point-of-attack defense, he's not the wing defender Wiggins is. And he's not anywhere close to the same caliber of offensive threat.

Hopefully, Wiggins gets to a point where he can return to the hardwood for myriad reasons that go beyond sports. If that doesn't happen, though, the Warriors are toast.

Pack Defense for All Road Trips

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Kerr # of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 17, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Want the list of teams with fewer road wins than the Warriors? Don't worry, it's not a long one. The list, in its entirety, is the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

That's it.

Nothing in Golden State's arsenal has traveled well, but the defense has been particularly putrid. The Warriors are 28th in road defensive efficiency, per NBA.com. Flip the setting to home games, and they rocket all the way up to third. This is, clearly, untenable for a contender, but if Golden State knew how to flip this script, it would have already.

"I can't tell you exactly why, but we know that the answer to all this is in our defense," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "You can't expect to trade baskets on the road and go win a game. You got to get stops."

The Dubs have it in them to be a dominant defensive team. They show that almost every time they play at home. Now, they just need to figure out how to bottle up that dominance and fit it into their luggage for every road trip.

Less Jordan Poole, More Donte DiVincenzo

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 5: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors and Donte DiVincenzo #0 look on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jordan Poole is a brilliant—if not always super-efficient—offensive player with some serious limitations on defense. That's not the ideal play style of a support player slotting alongside Curry and Thompson.

Donte DiVincenzo, meanwhile, doesn't have as much off-the-dribble oomph, but he offers more as a defender, distributor, slasher and spot-up shooter. Based on the eye test alone, he seems much more comfortable in a complementary role.

So, it's a little curious to see Poole logging nearly four more minutes per night than DiVincenzo (30.5 to 26.6). It's especially head-scratching when the Dubs' stars fare better with DiVincenzo than Poole. When DiVincenzo shares the floor with Curry, Thompson, Green and Kevon Looney, Golden State has a plus-9.4 net rating. Swap in Poole for DiVincenzo, and that number plummets to minus-3.4.

There will be nights when the Warriors need Poole's shot-creation more than DiVincenzo's jack-of-all-trades game, but those feel like the exception—not the rule. While Golden State has more invested in Poole, that's not enough of a reason to keep him in front of DiVincenzo on the pecking order.