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Pacific Division: 5 Burning Questions for the 2016-17 Season

By Josh Cornelissen

November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA season approaches, and the Pacific Division boasts this season’s title favorite, balanced by the dregs of the Western Conference. What are the burning questions for each team?

With the NBA season only days away, questions about the league’s 30 teams are burning in the minds of everyone who follows basketball. While the media is dominated by the league’s newest super team, every team has questions that need to be answered.

The Pacific Division boasted the greatest regular season team in league history as the Golden State Warriors soared to 73 wins before an injury-induced collapse in the Finals. They also fielded the Western Conference’s two worst teams, as the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers rode young teams to the top of the lottery.

This season dawns with optimism across the division, as all five teams can expect to improve. The Los Angeles Clippers played much of last season without Blake Griffin after he broke his hand punching a team official. After improving their bench, is there any chance they can challenge the Warriors?

The Kings also have reason for optimism, with a new coach and plenty of new rotation players. Can they break out of the bottom-10 and challenge for a playoff berth? Fans in Sacramento certainly think so, but everyone else will need to be convinced before they’re so easily roped in.

The Suns and Lakers also brought in new coaches, and with exciting young players hope to build a better foundation for the future. Each experienced dysfunction last season – the Lakers splintered over a Snapchat scandal, the Suns divided in rebellion against former coach Jeff Hornacek – but a new start could help each.

But the Pacific Division is first and foremost about the Golden State Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to an already stocked team. With more continuity than other recent “super teams” in Miami, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles they could start hot out of the gate. Can they set the wins record again – and should they?

Our burning questions start in Oakland. Who on the team will take on a reduced role now that Kevin Durant is in town?