The hiatus of basketball from July to September is detrimental to my health. Growing up, it would be frustration and disappointment. With the key signings of Mikki Moore and trades like Marco Bellinelli for Devean George, my family would always say, “This year is our year!”

 Nowadays, that period is a bit less stressful. It’s hard to complain when your team wins three championships in four years, signs Demarcus Cousins, and Klaytheism is in full force.

 Amin Elhassan even proclaimed that the Warriors would go 4-4-4-4 in the playoffs. The closest any team has gotten (in the “First Round 7 Games” era)...the Warriors. It’s time to add fuel to the fire with a preview of this season.

 This always seems necessary prior to making any bold (and even evident) predictions for the season:

 

“Barring injury the Warriors will…” :

 

*Bada bing, bada boom*

 

BE CHAMPIONSHIP Part IV.

 This Warriors team, when fully healthy will have the greatest starting five ever assembled in the FATAL 5 line-up. Don’t let anyone who says “Golden State ruined basketball” or “Lebron didn’t do the same thing KD did” tell you otherwise.

 

The organization turned Earl Boykins to Stephen Curry, Larry Hughes to Klay Thompson, Eduardo Najera to Kevin Durant, Danny Fortson to Draymond Green, and Patrick O’Bryant to Demarcus Cousin. GIVE BOB MYERS ALL THE BUBBLE TEA ON IRVING FOR FREE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

The team won’t shatter any regular season records. From top to bottom, the roster has instilled the mindset of being “16 game” players.

 What we saw last year: first half deficits, miraculous third quarters, and all-around lackadaisical October to April stretch, will happen again. There is no rush to activate Boogie, or anyone who gets injured through the duration of the season and cause to worry when there are rough patches through the season.

 

When Boogie is activated, expect there to be grace period of familiarization. It will be interesting to see who of the four will gel quickest/slowest when Boogie plays full minutes. Some may argue that the cohesion of KD and Steph on the court took the entirety of the season, but Klay took the biggest hit - in terms of finding his touch or even getting enough looks.

 

2018-19: Year of the Klay

 2014-15 season: 37 points in a quarter.

2016-17 season: 60 points, 11 dribbles, 29 minutes.

 See the trend? Klay has one “WTF is this real” type of game every other season. I don’t know who it will be against, but it will happen. Besides that point, Klay is playing in a contract year. And even though he’s stated that he is willing to take a pay cut and wants to stay, expect him to have his best year since KD’s arrival.

 

Biggest Surprise of the Season: Jonas Jerebko’s contribution (and if I’m completely wrong: Kevon Looney having his best year as a Warrior)

 

When the Dubs signed Omri Casspi last offseason I was quick to state that he was the sixth best Warrior. That notion quickly fizzled as it became apparent that he forgot to put up threes. I was expecting three slinging Omri that went shot for shot with Steph.

 

Now Jonas may suffer the same fate as Omri, Anderson, and Jason Thompson, but something tells me that he will be different. His career lulled after his time in Detroit, but considering the wear and tear of the season, night's where some of our big four rests, and the most potent offense that Jerebko will be immersed in, it’s hard to deny his potential. I am hoping to see him fill the void of David West on the court. Jonas, if you are reading this: please shoot the ball, do not hesitate when you have a good look, and ball out.

 

Question Marks: Damian Jones, Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook

 

Steve Kerr went to Andre quick in the series against the Spurs, Damian Jones is aiming to get starting minutes with Boogie out, and Jordan Bell...loves his Hennessy. In all seriousness, the biggest question mark is that of Jordan Bell. His athleticism is undeniable and his defensive instincts are uncanny. Throughout the season, we saw Draymond get pissed because he did not read the defense properly and had unnecessary fouls at times. Hopefully, with a year under his belt, Draymond in his ear, and under the tutelage of David West, Jordan learned a lot.

 

I am a Quinn cook stan. G league stud, two way player, Steph’s replacement towards the latter half of the season...his ability to score is there. That’s what earned him a multi-year deal. The question here is: will he be as effective from October to June. How much will Steve Kerr play him versus Jacob Evans/Damion Lee/and ol reliable: Shaun Livingston. Not sure what the majority of Dub Nation thinks or who Kerr’s bench will go to but SDot has a skill set that can expose any guard in the league. It will be hard for Quinn and the other young guards to show that type of capability.

 

Unless you watch much of the G-League, you probably have not seen what Damian Jones can do. On top of that, social media workouts are also not a viable source of information of Jones’ talent. He’s springy, he’s fast, and has size. Right now those three components act as three separate entities. Jones can jump, has great size and lateral movement, but can’t seem to put all three together for an extended period of time. With Javale, Zaza, and David West gone, it will be interesting to see who Kerr leans on in the absence of those three and the injured Boogie Cousins.

 

Who will get the most techs?

 

Even with Boogie gone for the foreseeable future, I am predicting him to equal the amount of Draymond technicals. Let’s be honest, Dray got away with A LOT of calls throughout last year. I do not think that it will be the same when Draymond, Boogie, and KD are on the court at the same time. Patience is thin, people hate us, and this is just fun to think about. Steve Kerr is also an early dark horse.

 

 Way too Early Playoff Matchup Predictions

1st Round: Lakers/Blazers

            CJ won’t try hard enough Jennifer.

Semi-Finals: Jazz

            Andre won’t have to deal with Utah nightlife for long.

WCF: Rockets

            “We ain’t going home.”

Finals: Pacers

            Pacers, Book em Danno.

 

It’s September and NBA basketball is less than a month a way. I could look like a total idiot in June, but hey, shooters shoot. With the season right around the corner let’s pour one out for Middle East Klay, the always offseason MVP.