Hoops Habit
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: 5 Areas That Need Attention Before The Playoffs

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves down court as fans react to his three point basket against the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 121-85. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves down court as fans react to his three point basket against the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 121-85. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Golden State Warriors
Mar 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) dunks in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Fix Harry B

When Harrison Barnes turned down a four-year, $64 million contract extension a few months ago, opinions were mixed. On the one hand, that seemed like an overly generous offer for the least valuable starter on a championship team who averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds last season.

On the other, with the NBA’s salary cap skyrocketing to a projected $89 million this summer, it only made sense for Barnes to try and build on a career year and get as much money as possible, whether that offer came from the Dubs again in a few months or from another team that forced the Warriors to match. Unfortunately, he hasn’t exactly blown anyone away this season.

Though he’s averaging a career-high 11.3 points per game, his field goal percentage and three-point percentage are down nearly three percent compared to last season. He’s still posting .458/.373/.772 shooting splits, but in 12 March games, his numbers have plummeted to 8.8 points per game on 39 percent shooting from the floor and 20 percent shooting from downtown.

The Dubs have still posted a 10-2 record in those games, but that’s mostly because of the shooting prowess of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Barnes has only reached double figures in the scoring column three times in March, his confidence looks shot and Kerr has even opted to close a few games out with Varejao or Rush rather than him.

That’s not the end of the world for now, since the Dubs keep winning regardless. But in a seven-game series with a team like the Spurs or Thunder, Barnes’ versatility, his ability to knock down open corner threes and his fearlessness in making defenses pay by attacking the rim could all be huge X-factors.

Barnes isn’t a playmaker like Curry, Draymond Green or even Andrew Bogut. He’s not a scorer like Curry or Thompson and he’s not a lockdown defender like Green. But the Dubs sure would appreciate 2014-15 Harrison Barnes showing up to be the underrated role player who makes teams grind their teeth when they take away Options A, B and C only to be burned by Option D.

Next: No. 2

Home/Golden State Warriors