Warriors’ offseason task: score again in transition
The Warriors are crumbling.
Great talent at the top, sure, but look what they might lose: key role players who mean so much to the team scheme and chemistry.
And what about the fans, facing the loss of lovable characters who added a fiber to the team that thrives on unity and joy?
A problem? Sure, and we’re talking about this time last year.
The Warriors were about to lose Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Leandro Barbosa and Mo Speights.
No! Not the Blur and Mo Buckets! Not bad-ass Bogut! Not Barnes, whose rock-solid work (until the Finals) and citizenship perfectly complemented the superstars!
My point: If any team has a chance of surviving major turnover, it’s the Warriors.
I am not equating the loss of Barbosa and Speights with the possible loss of Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. The former were spirited and effective role guys; the latter are crunch-timers who helped shape the team’s core character.
But change is part of the game in the NBA, and I like the Warriors’ chances of showing up next season sailing on the same ship — Good Ship Lollipop — with a few different sailors.
There is always luck involved in retooling, but it’s also an art, and a science, and the Warriors have that covered with Bob Myers, Steve Kerr and their crew.
They’re scrambling, trying to keep some players and fill in blanks. Around the league, super teams are being assembled with one goal: Unseat the Warriors.
The engraving is barely cool on Old Larry (the Lawrence O’Brien Trophy) and already the pressure is on the Warriors to hold their spot on the mountaintop.
What could be more fun?