The Los Angeles Lakers are back on top of the NBA after defeating the Miami Heat in six games to win the 2020 Finals.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers might be the new kings, but make no mistake, the Warriors are coming.
After a year spent sinking to the bottom of the NBA, the Warriors are rested, recharged and hungry to prove their dynasty isn't over. While the combination of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins should vault the Warriors right back into title contention, they might not be ready to topple the new kings of the NBA just yet.
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NBA executives told The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor what the Warriors need to find this offseason to take the crown from James and the Lakers.
"Just in the past week, multiple executives from different teams have texted me to say that the Warriors had better find a big in order to get by the Lakers," O'Connor writes.
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Golden State Warriors
There's no doubt Davis presents a matchup issue for just about every team the Lakers face, and the Warriors would be no different.
Green has been a good defender in the past, but he gives up four inches to Davis. The Warriors other bigs who are currently on the roster -- Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney -- didn't put up much resistance against Davis this past season when the Lakers star averaged 25 points per game in two contests against Golden State.
There's no doubt the Warriors, who own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, a $17.2 million trade exception and will have the tax payer midlevel exception to use this offseason, will be looking to get a seasoned big who can make Davis work on the offensive end.
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Of course, it goes both ways. Yes, the Warriors will have to find a way to slow down Davis in order to knock off the defending champs. But the Lakers also will have to find a way to not get scorched by Curry. The Lakers' best perimeter defenders are Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley (pending free agent) and Alex Caruso, all of whom Curry will have the upper hand against.
When the Lakers and Warriors meet again next season, it will no doubt be a contrast in styles. The Lakers bullied teams with their size, physicality and team defense this season and that surely will be the blueprint next season as well.
The Warriors, meanwhile, will return and once again look to shred teams with their deadly ball-movement offense and relentless assault from behind the arc.
Next season's Warriors still are taking shape. They know they need to get bigger. Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Dwight Howard all could be options. The Warriors have a multitude of options to improve their team for what they believe will be a climb back to the top.
James, Davis and the Lakers will be in their way and the Warriors know that. Let the games begin.