After the Oklahoma City Thunder became the youngest team in nearly half a century to win an NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors are betting on age and experience to bring them back to the top of the Western Conference.
This offseason, the Warriors went against the league-wide youth movement by adding 39-year-old veteran Al Horford, a five-time All-Star who continues to defy Father Time.
And while some skeptics question whether the “old but gold” Warriors can still hang with emerging contenders like Oklahoma City, ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson believes Golden State can make a serious playoff run — as long as they can stay on the court.
Jefferson Compares Horford to Past Warriors Bigs
“It feels like every time we talk about an NBA season, it comes down to health,” Jefferson told Heavy Sports during a media conference call. “If this team is healthy, there’s no drama. That being said, that team is deep. That team has a lot of talent.”
Jefferson, who played for the Warriors during the 2012-13 season before defeating them in the 2016 NBA Finals with the Cavaliers, said Horford’s arrival has stabilized the team’s structure on both ends of the floor.
GettyAl Horford signed a two-year $11.6 million deal to join the Golden State Warriors over the offseason.
“Al Horford, we’ve seen him plug and play with so many teams,” Jefferson said. “When we did their game, it felt like when they had David West, when they had Andrew Bogut. They had a defensive big next to Draymond Green that made their game so much easier.”
Horford’s leadership and court vision have already impressed Steve Kerr’s staff during training camp. Though the veteran big man played limited minutes in the preseason, he has given the Warriors a defensive anchor and a steadying presence on offense.
Championship Hopes Ride on Health and Depth
Jefferson said the Warriors still belong in the championship conversation — but only if the core of Stephen Curry, Green, Jimmy Butler, and Horford can stay healthy through the grind of an 82-game season.
“If they’re healthy, this Warriors team has a chance to be one of the top teams in the West,” Jefferson said. “The West is loaded. They could play great and still lose to OKC in six. That’s still a great season. They could go to the Conference Finals.
“Are they a championship team? That would take a tremendous amount of health for a team that’s a little bit older. But they’re definitely in the mix.”
Warriors Already Battling Injuries Ahead of Opener
The Warriors’ health is already being tested before the season even starts. Butler missed the team’s final three preseason games with a sprained ankle, Moses Moody is doubtful for opening night with a calf strain, and De’Anthony Melton continues to rehab from last year’s ACL injury.
Golden State closed the preseason with a narrow 106-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. They’ll open the regular season Tuesday night against the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Kerr said he remains optimistic Butler will be ready for opening night, noting how the six-time All-Star’s presence changes the team’s offensive rhythm and defensive poise.
Without Butler, however, the Warriors reverted to sloppy habits.
“I think Jimmy solves a lot of that,” Kerr said after Friday’s game. “Remember last year — we were 25 and 26 without him. We turned it over frequently. But after we got him, the game made a lot more sense. There was more control, fewer turnovers, and we started winning. No coincidence.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Richard Jefferson Makes Bold Warriors Prediction appeared first on Heavy Sports.