Golden State Warriors: 5 keys to repeating in 2017-18

The Golden State Warriors are the favorites to win the title, but they still have to get there. What are five keys to repeating as the defending champs?

Everywhere you look, the Golden State Warriors are written in as the champions this season.

ESPN‘s Zach Lowe subtitled his NBA tiers piece “From Warriors to worst” this past week. Las Vegas has the Warriors’ odds of a title at the highest mark for any team in any sport, ever. To select another team would be foolish.

Even so, the title is not handed to the Warriors for all their status as the favorite. As every team has to do each and every season, the Larry O’Brien trophy has to be earned. Two seasons ago, the Warriors won 73 wins and were a championship lock before LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers decided otherwise.

To reach their goal the Warriors will need to execute, and play to the level that is expected of them. They reached such a level last season, winning their second title in three seasons. Reaching the Finals four seasons in a row is difficult — only four teams have accomplished it in NBA history. Steve Kerr and company wish to make it five.

The odds are in their favor, and the pathways to a title are more numerous than maybe any team in NBA history. This roster is loaded, the coaching staff and front office are talented, and even their division is the worst in basketball. But they still have to get there.

To do so, here are five keys to winning another title. We start with the lesson this learned two seasons ago.