5 Predictions for the Warriors' Season
Keith Smart improved the team's win total by ten games, but he was still let go.
That means Mark Jackson (a big advocate of defense) is under a lot of pressure and is most definitely already on the hotseat.
The team has drafted solid talent in Klay Thompson and Jeremy Tyler and has a good core going forward. With a young nucleus of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, the team will really go far.
Klay Thompson Will Make the All-Rookie Team
1 of 5There are ten players who make the All-Rookie teams every year. Klay Thompson was the 11th overall pick in this year's draft.
His competition at the wing spot is Jimmer Fredette, Alec Burks and Kahwi Leonard.
There are four wing spots, and Thompson also has the advantage over Fredette (plays with Marcus Thornton, John Salmons, and Tyreke Evans) and Burks (plays with Gordon Hayward, Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko) who both won't get as much playing time as Thompson.
Dorell Wright Will Lead the League in Three Pointers
2 of 5When you score more points one season than you did in the previous six combined, you've had a pretty good season.
Expect Wright to come back similarly next season. Actually, even more impressively.
He has the talent to score 20 points a game and is just absolutely explosive beyond the arc. He made about 2.5 triples a game last year and has the ability to increase that number to 3 or 3.5.
Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis Will Score over 45 PPG Together
3 of 5They're pretty darn close already.
Together, the two scored around 42 PPG last year, and they're only going to improve. Stephen Curry is still getting a feel for the league, and Monta Ellis is entering the prime of his career. A pretty good combination if you ask me.
Ellis realizes that he's an elite scorer, and if he wants to be an All-Star next year, he knows he has to score at elite levels (25+ PPG), but append more efficiency the his volume of shots.
Curry, on the other hand, is an amazing shooter but deferred to Ellis a bit too much last year. While he's an excellent distributor, he should definitely start lighting things up from behind the line next year.
The Team Will Make a Blockbuster Trade Not Involving Monta Ellis
4 of 5Why exactly should Ellis get traded?
While he may help some other teams out there, such a trade would only worsen the Warriors.
He actually plays well pretty well with Curry, and he, Curry, and Thompson can actually play together if Mark Jackson manages Ellis' playing time correctly.
The teams interior defense is really lacking, and they need to acquire a solid big man. I wouldn't be surprised if Larry Riley traded David Lee or Andris Biedrins. However, if he traded Ellis, I would be appalled.
Either Jeremy Tyler or Ekpe Udoh Will Be the Starting Center
5 of 5Andris Biedrins doesn't cut it.
He has an insane contract, and as I said in the previous slide, the team's current interior defense is not good, to say the least.
Expect Epke Udoh, who was drafted for his defensive abilities, or the risky Jeremy Tyler to be the team's starting center at the end of training camp (whenever that will be).
Mark Jackson preaches defense, and these guys are the formula to getting that done.
