Golden State Warriors: Starting lineup locks, fringe, and potential break-ins
Locks for the starting lineup
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins
There is no denying that Stephen Curry is not the same player he was during his MVP years. He is going to turn 33 during the season, has suffered a number of nagging injuries himself, and will have a greater burden on his shoulders this year than ever before. The success of the Warriors’ offense will rest solely on his slim shoulders. He is a lock for the starting lineup; can he be the force he once was?
A similar question must be asked of Draymond Green. He had a miserable season a year ago, seemingly sleepwalking through a series of games that didn’t seem to matter to him. Was his poor play a result of an age-related decline in his athleticism? Or was it simply a lack of competition on a losing team? At his best Green is a defensive monster swallowing up opponents and generating turnovers. At his worst, Green is an offensively-challenged tweener clogging up the floor. The Warriors need Green locked in to reach anything close to contention.
The third lock for the starting lineup is Andrew Wiggins. He is, ultimately, the replacement for Kevin Durant in the lineup. The team executed a sign-and-trade last offseason for D’Angelo Russell when Durant went to the Nets, and then at the trade deadline flipped Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Wiggins and a pick. Especially with Thompson out, the Warriors need him to step up as the secondary scorer.
Wiggins can score; that has never been in doubt. In seven of his ten games with the Warriors last season he dropped at least 20 points. The questions come from everything else. Can he move the ball in head coach Steve Kerr’s offense, or will he be a ball-stopper? He has the tools to be a strong wing defender; can he combine tools with effort and execution to fill that need for this team? Can he space the floor or will defenders sag off of him to double Curry? Whatever the answer, the Warriors have too much invested in Wiggins not to see him in the starting lineup.