Golden State Warriors: 5 Problems With The Super Team In Oakland

No True Center

Much was made about Golden State letting go of their two centers from the last two seasons, Festus Ezeli and Andrew Bogut, in exchange for the cap space to sign Kevin Durant. Getting Durant was a great move, obviously, no matter the losses there.

The Warriors probably should’ve made a better attempt to replace their big men, though. As good as Durant and Green are at defending multiple positions, there’s not a damn thing the Warriors can do about this:

JaVale McGee has been floated as a possible solution to the lack of verticality present in Zaza Pachulia, but in that same game Rudy Gay glides around him effortlessly.

This is a real problem for the Warriors. Zach Randolph was unstoppable in that Grizzlies win over Golden State, missing just five of his 17 shot attempts and regularly getting wherever he wanted when defended by Pachulia …

… and Durant.

There’s just nothing the Warriors can do about that without sending help, and that’s when shooters open up around the perimeter.

Somehow Enes Kanter played just three minutes and change against the Warriors when they played the Oklahoma City Thunder. That has to change when these two teams next meet–Kanter is exactly the type of player the Dubs have no answer for.

When the Warriors are obliterating teams on the other end, it’s permissible to have a hole defensively. When games are close, like this one against the Grizzlies or the Christmas Day match-up with the Cavaliers, that deficiency can cost Golden State the game.