Golden State Warriors: 5 Bold Predictions for 2017-18 NBA Season

The Golden State Warriors are making life difficult for more than just their NBA contemporaries.

Hoops prognosticators of the bold variety, for instance, are having a tricky time dreaming bigger than the Dubs' reality.

They're dominating at once-in-a-generation levels. They're evolving the sport and challenging long-held beliefs about what's possible inside the lines. They might have compiled the best roster ever assembled, and each iteration in this run always seems better than the last.

That's why predicting another title for this franchise isn't bold enough. While it's not guaranteed, it's the most likely ending to the upcoming campaign.

We're going a little more daring as we delve into five bold Warriors' forecasts for 2017-18.

Jordan Bell Gets More Minutes Than JaVale McGee

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JaVale McGee's 2016-17 campaign surprised for a number of reasons, not the least of which was how he fit his square-peg talents into Golden State's round-hole system. He's a specialist on a team that thrives off versatility—an unreliable anchor on a top-two defense with spotty awareness on arguably the Association's smartest squad.

And yet, the Dubs were at their absolute best when McGee was on the court, thrashing opponents by an astounding 18.7 points per 100 possessions.

So, why would McGee be in jeopardy of ceding his floor time to Jordan Bell, a rookie with no discernible similarities to McGee beyond explosiveness? Because Bell already fits the framework, meaning there's no need to swap styles the way McGee necessitates.

Golden State can still get vertical spacing—a defense-collapsing lob threat, McGee's primary contribution—without sacrificing defense or awareness. As Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes noted, the Warriors have been trying to add a Bell-type to the bench for years:

"We know head coach Steve Kerr craves a player like Bell because Kerr has spent his three seasons in charge trying to shoehorn less capable alternatives into a sort of hybrid, switchy, defense-first center spot. Sure, Kerr has always started a conventional 5 and frequently unleashed [Draymond] Green there for short bursts in clutch moments. But Kerr's persistent efforts to make James Michael McAdoo a contributor reveal how badly he wanted someone to be as Green-like as possible in the middle."

McGee won't be bumped from the rotation, but the Warriors don't trust him in major spots. After averaging 9.6 minutes per game in the regular season, he saw just 5.8 in the NBA Finals and didn't play in Game 5. Even as a rookie, Bell could be a playoff consideration, because he allows them to play their best style.

If he's potentially in that mix, he'll need to work through his growing pains first—at McGee's expense.

Will Break Record for Offensive Efficiency

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The greatest offense ever assembled is coming to an arena near you. And somehow, saying that doesn't feel as absurdly bold as it should.

Thing is, last season's group already matched the all-time high mark for offensive execution. Their 115.6 offensive rating put them on a level only previously reached by the 1986-87 "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers. And Golden State goes into this campaign with more continuity (and presumably improved chemistry) and increased firepower on the second team.

"Unlike this time last year, there are no big questions about how they'll share the ball or whether or not they are big enough or deep enough," CBSSports.com' James Herbert wrote. "Their stars, who range from 27 to 29 years old, can still credibly say they are getting better and rounding out their games. The pieces fit. The formula works."

Reaching a higher plane of offensive precision almost feels inevitable.

Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson already went through the awkward debut dance where they were just trying to stay off each other's toes. And in that campaign, they became the first teammate trio to all average 20-plus points since 2007-08.

They're already growing together. After compiling an unbelievable 121.4 offensive rating during the regular season, they bumped it to 124.4 in the playoffs amid much higher pressure and against much better opponents.

Oh, and now they have even more scoring help around them with sharpshooters Nick Young and Omri Casspi joining the party. People will expect a record-setting attack. But don't discount the difficulty of doing anything in this league better than anyone ever has.

Won't Exceed Last Year's Win Total

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The Warriors haven't won fewer than 67 games since the start of their championship run in 2014. Oddsmakers feel they'll be right there again, setting the team's over/under win total at 67.5.

If you think the over sounds like easy money, you're not at all alone. There has never been a stronger preseason favorite to take the title, and people are wondering aloud whether Golden State could surpass its own record with 74 triumphs.

But these Warriors will finish the same way all but six teams ever have—with 67 victories or fewer. There are so many obstacles in the way of 68-plus wins, and one will trip them up along the way.

Like the fact Golden State knows it's better than the rest of the league and has two rings to prove it.

"The biggest challenge is complacency," Kerr told Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. "We've been to the Finals three years in a row. And for our core group...that's a long haul, and you just cannot lose your edge in this league."

Or maybe the Warriors' good fortune with health runs out. They were among the league's least injured teams in both 2014-15 and 2016-17, per InStreetClothes.com. Thompson has never missed more than five games, Green's most is six and Curry has lost 16 contests the past five campaigns combined. Ill-timed injuries could cost Golden State its quantity-plus-quality advantage over its peers.

There's such a slim margin for error in topping 67 wins that cold shooting spells, unlucky late-game bounces, bouts of defensive indifference or resting players could all stop the Warriors from clearing it.

Kevin Durant Cruises to 2nd MVP

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It's a testament to Durant's Hall of Fame-quality skill set that he made last season's transition to the team appear seamless.

He scored at least 20 points on 60-plus percent shooting in six of his first eight games with Golden State. By regular season's end, he had outpaced his career rate of 26.2 points per 36 minutes (27.0) while posting personal bests in field-goal percentage (53.7), rebounds (8.3) and blocks (1.6). They were marks that landed him on the All-NBA second team despite missing 20 games to injury.

Durant found yet another level in the postseason, shining brightest on the biggest stage. His five-game demolition of the Cleveland Cavaliers earned him Finals MVP honors and this stellar stat line: 35.2 points on 55.6 percent shooting (47.4 from three), 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks.

It shouldn't be possible for the former MVP to have further growth potential. But the Dubs believe his best is still to come.

"Last year, he was trying to figure out what the hell we were doing," Kerr said, per Mark Medina of the Bay Area News Group. "This year, he's totally dialed in. He understands the concepts and is comfortable in his surroundings. He's a different guy this year."

League executives painted the 2017-18 MVP race as a two-man affair with 50 percent selecting LeBron James and 29 percent taking Durant, per NBA.com. Kawhi Leonard was the next closest with only 11 percent of the vote.

Watch Durant figure out how to make this a runaway victory. Even though there's plenty to like about James' candidacy, a comfortable Durant could challenge the King's volume production while scoring decisive victories in efficiency and team success.

Playoff Perfection

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It can be difficult for any sports statistic to obtain permanent relevance. But a 16-0 postseason record would never lose its luster.

The Dubs were one victory shy of a perfect playoff run last year before suffering a stunning 21-point defeat during Game 4 of the Finals. They still sealed the deal the next time out, but that just put them alongside the other one-playoff-loss champions, the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.

Not to discredit the accomplishment—because of format changes, Golden State is the only 16-1 champ—but an unblemished postseason sprint falls more in line with the team's supersized dreams. The Warriors want to be placed on the same historical platform with Michael Jordan's six-time champion Chicago Bulls.

"I still think we're not on their level yet, but that's what we aspire to be of the 2000s," Thompson told ESPN.com's Nick Friedell. "We aspire to be that dynasty that will be in the minds of NBA fans forever."

The Dubs are on their way. Two titles in three years are special. Two titles sandwiched around a record-setting season is almost dominance of a timeless nature.

Running the table in the second season would check that box. It might even be more impressive this year than last.

Sure, the Warriors have fortified their ranks, but their fellow Western Conference contenders have hoarded stars. Golden State could easily be facing a minefield like this—Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in the first round; James Harden and Chris Paul the next; Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in the conference finals; then LeBron James, Isaiah Thomas and Kevin Love in the championship round.

Surviving that stretch would be an unbelievable accomplishment for most teams. Traversing it without stumbling into a single loss will be the Warriors' ticket to historical acclaim.

Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball Reference or NBA.com.

Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @ZachBuckleyNBA.