Won the championship in June. Re-signed starters Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Zaza Pachulia as well as key reserves Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston in July. Added Nick Young and Omri Casspi as inexpensive free agents, and watched the Cavaliers take on water. How was your summer?
> One Team, One Stat: Warriors make most of their talent
> 30 Teams in 30 Days: Warriors seem primed for another dominant season
> DA’s Offseason Rankings: Golden State is No. 1
> Warriors-Cavaliers series recap
ICYMI
The Warriors committed $334 million in new contracts to Curry, Durant, Iguodala, Livingston, Pachulia and Young … Jumping into the second-round after buying a pick, the Warriors selected Jordan Bell, an athletic, defensive-minded forward from Oregon. … Pachulia’s received a new contract and the Order of Honor from his native Republic of Georgia, awarded to citizens who contributed to national success. Not a bad offseason.
THREE POINTS
1. Steve Kerr plans to be at full strength when he returns as coach after missing large stretches of the schedule each of the last two seasons. What happens to Kerr impacts what happens to the Warriors.
2. Iguodala turns 34 in January and Livingston turned 32 in September. Just sayin’.
3. The league-wide move to build more off days into the schedule will be particularly beneficial for the Warriors, who go from 17 back-to-backs to 14. A team that would have been looking for rest anyway will get more.
MAN ON THE SPOT
Steve Kerr. Not for his work on the sidelines. For staying on the sideline. Missing time for a third consecutive season, even a short stretch, will guarantee his health issues remain at the forefront of conversation with the Warriors within range of building a true dynasty.
STARTING FIVE
Stephen Curry | 25.3 ppg | 4.5 rpg | 6.6 apg
Has led the Warriors in scoring five consecutive seasons.
Klay Thompson | 22.3 ppg | 3.7 rpg | 2.1 apg
Finished second in 3-pointers made and ninth in 3-point percentage.
Kevin Durant | 25.1 ppg | 8.3 rpg | 4.9 apg
Made transition from Thunder to Warriors appear virtually seamless.
Draymond Green | 10.2 ppg | 7.9 rpg | 7.0 apg
Reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in steals.
Zaza Pachulia | 6.1 ppg | 5.9 rpg | 1.9 apg
Only 18.1 minutes per game in the regular season.
KEY RESERVES
Andre Iguodala | 7.6 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 3.4 apg
One of the top Sixth Men candidates in recent years and likely again.
Shaun Livingston | 5.1 ppg | 2.0 rpg |1.8 apg
Steady with the ball and dependable with the shot
Patrick McCaw | 4.0 ppg | 1.4 rpg | 1.1 apg
Second-round pick made a much bigger contribution than expected as a rookie.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Expectations are so high that anything less than a third championship in four years would be a surprise to many and failing to win the West would be a massive failure. The big test comes in the playoffs and the challenge of bringing the necessary energy in the wake of three consecutive trips into June.
Scott Howard-Cooper has covered the NBA since 1988. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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