Subplots may thicken as title defense opens
The setting will reveal an entertaining display with the pageantry of a Broadway show and the special effects of an action movie.
The Warriors’ opening night today will start with a ring ceremony where every member of the organization will receive jewelry to remind them of last season’s championship greatness.
Then the Warriors will take the floor against the revamped Houston Rockets, hoping to demonstrate that fireworks are likely to keep bursting for the next nine months.
Those new blingy rings aside, all the opening-night buildup leads to a single piece of hardware: The Larry O’Brien trophy. Can they hoist it once again?
As the Warriors embark toward that destination, there are always things below the surface that could become issues. So here are five subplots to follow during the Warriors’ quest to repeat:
STEVE KERR’S HEALTH »
The Warriors coach said he feels fine before expressing optimism he will coach all 82 regular-season games and beyond. Because of the dicey nature of Kerr’s complications from his back surgery two years ago, however, it’s fair to wonder if his optimism will turn into a real-life scenario.
Fortunately, the Warriors have the talent and infrastructure to have a placeholder in case Kerr needs time off at some point. Mike Brown led the Warriors to an 11-0 record in last year’s playoffs after having mixed success as a head coach with Cleveland and the Lakers.
Brown is still here in case he is needed for spot duty. But the Warriors want Kerr’s calm presence, relatable personality and X’s and O’s savviness on the sideline for as many games as possible.
THE STEPH & KD CHEMISTRY »
Forget the shoe battle. Or the teammate battle for the regular-season MVP award. The Warriors learned plenty last year to know that Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant can coexist quite nicely — and, as a bonus, will probably be an unstoppable 1-2 punch this season.
Curry sublimated his game last season so Durant could flourish. Kerr changed his playbook to ensure the Warriors would still make good use of Curry’s shooting. Durant sliced up the spotlight among him, Curry and others, after having a tug-and-pull exercise with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City.
This year could be even easier for both of them. Kerr recently observed that Curry is “at his absolute peak, physically and mentally” after seeing him play efficiently in training camp. Durant has backed up his claims of feeling more comfortable in his second Warriors training camp. Look for massive seasons from both.
WILL REST PROVE REJUVENATING? »
Kerr maintained he will not rest his stars “en masse” as he did at certain points last season. The NBA has since changed its schedule to reduce the long trips. Still, the Warriors found ways to make this past offseason more relaxing.
Though the Warriors still played again through June, Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson did not need to save some fuel for Team USA as they did for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Curry no longer has to worry about his right knee healing, an injury that prompted him to withdraw from playing in Rio. Instead, the Warriors’ star players mixed in a dose of rest with offseason trips to rejuvenate their minds and bodies.
The grind will soon begin. Temporary feelings of jetlag from the China trip aside, the Warriors are not entering the season with bags under their eyelids.
IGGY ‘SIXTH MAN’ MATERIAL? »
It is not an award that Andre Iguodala will actively seek. He has accomplished so much more as an All-Star, gold medalist, two-time NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP. After accepting a bench role for the past three seasons, he should have another shot at winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Will he get it though? The past three winners — Lou Williams (2014-15), Jamal Crawford (2015-16) and Eric Gordon (2016-17) — posted better numbers on teams that relied more on their offensive scoring punch.
Iguodala has averaged 7.5 points per game in the past three seasons. But on a team where offensive production always runs at a premium, Iguodala fills the gaps everywhere else with his passing, defense and leadership.
WHAT ABOUT THE NEW GUYS? »
After bringing back 12 players from the championship roster, their identity still rests on star power and team-minded culture. The Warriors still added three key players, though, to upgrade their bench and inject new life.
So which addition will make the most impact?
Will Nick Young continue his career rejuvenation as a dependable secondary scorer? Or will his questionable conditioning and inconsistency mark a season-long trend?
Will Omri Casspi maintain his comfort level with his cutting, aggressiveness and shooting as he did in preseason? Or is that just a mirage?
Will Jordan Bell continuously climb the depth chart to become Draymond Green’s predecessor? Or will his energy and hustle only translate into bursts of production?