The Golden State Warriors enter the 2016-17 season as a team without precedent. Not only are they coming off a season in which they broke the regular season record for wins, but they’ve added one of the top five players in the NBA with the addition of Kevin Durant. There may never have been a single greater amassing of talent in league history, and barring health issues, there’s only one question between them and another historically dominant season: Is everyone going to get enough shots?
Both Durant and Steph Curry averaged 20 field goal attempts per game last season, and Klay Thompson averaged 17. One would figure that all of those numbers will dip as everyone is forced to share the ball, but one wonders if any of those legendary shooters are concerned that a drop in attempts will precipitate a loss of rhythm or confidence. Klay isn’t concerned, and apparently, neither is Steph:
“[My game] won’t change at all,” Curry said. “That’s the reason KD joined — knowing we weren’t going to sacrifice anything, that we all have to be ourselves to make things work. There will be some adjustments when it comes to the in-game flow and how we work together, but for us to be who we’re supposed to be, we all have to kind of elevate ourselves.”
It’s a nice thought, but it’s simply impossible for a team to integrate such a massive impact player like Durant without everyone else changing around him — that’s just how the NBA works. But we can kind of see what he’s saying, if we parse it out: the Warriors’ effectiveness comes from the danger that their array of offensive options provides, and if coach Steve Kerr gives all three equal freedom to shoot, then they can all fire away at will and find each other their best shots. If they play with the same collective joy they have since Kerr arrived, it shouldn’t be a problem.
And yet, the question of rhythm arises again. If everyone has the green light and someone is feeling the hot hand, how will Steph or KD or Klay handle a game in which they might not even shoot 12 times? It will be one of the biggest subplots of the Warriors’ season, and the spotlight will be on them so bright it may even heat up some tempers. Kerr’s magic chemistry touch could be put to the test this year.
(Via ESPN)
