Predicting stats for Steph, Warriors as NBA season nears
The NBA season finally has arrived.After an extended offseason, the Warriors will return to the NBA spotlight Tuesday when they open the season against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.With Klay Thompson (Achilles) slated to miss another full season, the Warriors will rely on Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Draymond Green to keep them in the title hunt as well as No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman.The new-look Warriors will be the NBA's most intriguing storyline as the new season gets underway. Can Curry play at an MVP level and carry the Warriors to a top-four seed in the West? Will Wiggins make the jump Golden State expects? How does Green bounce back from what was a down season a year ago? What will Wiseman's first NBA season look like?I'll never doubt Curry or Green, and I think the Warriors' culture will bring the most out of Wiggins and Oubre. In short. I expect big things from the Warriors' core this season.
We have yet to see James Wiseman take the floor as a Warrior, but the excitement for the No. 2 overall pick is through the roof.
Steve Kerr said the rookie's first scrimmage had some positives and negatives, but that he was impressed by Wiseman's athleticism and ability to get up and down the floor in transition.
We don't yet know if Wiseman will start at center right away, but I bet he earns the spot by mid-January and never looks back.
He still needs to learn the NBA game, but he has great touch around the rim and is an eraser on defense. I expect Wiseman to have a great first season and finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting.
Predicted stats: 12.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
The Warriors traded for Kelly Oubre to help fill the void left by the injury to Klay Thompson. It's too much to expect Oubre to put up similar numbers to Thompson, but the Warriors do need the 25-year-old to continue the upward trajectory he started once he arrived in Phoenix.
Oubre played alongside Devin Booker in Phoenix, but he never has played with a player who will command the kind of attention that a healthy Steph Curry will demand.
He's blossomed into a great young wing over the past two seasons and I think he finds a lot of success with the Warriors, especially with unrestricted free agency on the horizon.
Predicted stats: 18.5 points (34.5 percent from 3-point range) and 6.7 rebounds
With the Warriors nowhere near playoff contention last season, Draymond Green took the time to rest his heavy legs. The intensity wasn't what it has been. That's understandable.
But Green has heard all the talk about his best years being behind him. He showed up to training camp in great shape. As my colleague Monte Poole would say: "Doubt Draymond at your own risk."
So, I won't do that. Green's play is essential to the Warriors' resurgence this season, and I think he's motivated to silence all of those who relished in the Warriors' downfall last season.
He might never return to the All-Star level he played at from 2015-18, but he's still a damn good forward.
Predicted stats: 10.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals
The Warriors are very high on Andrew Wiggins and see him as a core part of the next evolution of their dynasty. More will be expected of Wiggins with Thompson out for the season, but the 2014 No. 1 overall pick has all the talent to be the No. 2 scoring option the Warriors need.
In 12 games with the Warriors last season, Wiggins averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He played in one game with Curry, scoring 21 points on 9 of 20 shooting. He also grabbed 10 rebounds in that game. I don't expect Wiggins to average double-digit rebounds, but I do think that stat line is along the lines of what we can expect from the Kansas product in his first full season with the Warriors.
Predicted stats: 20.4 points (35.6 percent from 3), 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds
He's baaaaaaaaaaack.
The NBA wasn't the same last season, as Curry spent all but five games in a suit after breaking his left hand. After nine months off, the two-time NBA MVP is champing at the bit to get back on the hardwood.
In three preseason games, he showed he was already in midseason form. After putting up only 10 points in the preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets, Curry put up back-to-back 29-point performances against the Kings.
The Warriors will need Curry to play at an MVP level for them to contend and I don't see any reason why he won't do just that. If Curry wins his third MVP trophy this season, I won't be shocked.
Predicted stats: 30.3 points (43.1 percent from 3), 6.2 assists, 1.9 steals
There are big expectations for second-round pick Nico Mannion. The Arizona product signed a two-way contract and isn't expected to figure into the Warriors' rotation immediately.
Mannion has struggled shooting the ball in the preseason, but he has shown his playmaking ability and has been a pest on defense.
He'll get some run occasionally for the Warriors, but Brad Wanamaker has solidified himself as the backup point guard and it's hard to see Mannion swiping that role this year.
Predicted stats: 4.2 points. 2.1 assists (26 games played)
