Golden State Warriors back on top in the NBA

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UNDATED — The Golden State Warriors are back on top. After a couple recent years that were halted by injuries, the Warriors are again at the top of the NBA. Golden State needed six games to take down the Boston Celtics for the 2022 NBA Finals win.

The Warriors appeared in the finals from 2015-2019 seasons, four of those years they matched up with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Every year besides 2016, Golden State was able to claim victory. This finals win in 2022 is their current core’s fourth championship together.

Klay Thompson had back-to-back missed seasons in 2019-20, thanks to knee and achilles injuries. Thompson finally returned this year and played in 32 games. When you combine that with the departure of Kevin Durant and other injuries, it is not hard to see why the Warriors fell off for a short time.

Stephen Curry was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 31.2 points, six rebounds and five assists in the series. Curry had help though, and it included help from players that had no finals experience. Andrew Wiggins captured his first title, poured in 18.3 points a game against the Celtics. Jordan Poole is another key player on the Warriors that will receive his first ring, the University of Michigan products added 13.2 points a game for Golden State in the finals.

Having Thompson back and healthy in the finals was key. The sharpshooter produced 17 points per game against Boston when it mattered most.

The most impressive thing about the Warriors is that they are not as good as they can eventually be. Poole is a rising player in the league that will only get better. James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody are all young players that were highly touted when drafted. If each of those players can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for the Warriors.

The core of Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green are aging, but they are still very good. Combining the young group with this core should allow the Warriors to be in contention for at least the next couple of years.

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By Brandon Little

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