Over the past two seasons, Stephen Curry has performed exceptionally well for the Golden State Warriors , averaging 27.9 points per game on 41.7% shooting from beyond the arc. However, despite his stellar offensive showings, the Dubs have struggled to maintain a competitive presence in the Western Conference.
Recognizing the challenges faced by a superstar in an underperforming franchise, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce recently discussed the demoralizing atmosphere the 2022 Finals MVP must be experiencing, particularly after the franchise even failed to acquire any big-name players in the summer.
The Truth further boldly asserted that the Warriors' only hope of returning to title contention would be acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo .
Pierce sees Giannis as the missing piece for the Dubs
The Western Conference's competitiveness has grown due to the influx of star power and the comprehensive depth of teams such as the Denver Nuggets, OKC Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves. These teams have not only a strong starting lineup but also players off the bench who are capable of making winning plays on both ends of the court.
Furthermore, franchises like the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have formed their own Big 3, which also puts them as dark horses in the title race. This changing landscape has ultimately relegated Steve Kerr's team to merely a Play-In Tournament team despite boasting the greatest shooter of all time.
While the Warriors could part ways with aging stars like Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, they could not add a young and reliable star alongside Steph and Draymond Green. As a result, expectations from the 2022 NBA Champs have further diminished after their continued reliance on small-ball and an even more added burden on the 10-time All-Star to shoot lights out for them to win games.
In light of these circumstances, The Truth asserted that the only viable path for Golden State to chase another championship ring within Chef Curry's prime years is by actively pursuing Giannis, who has arguably been the most consistent performer in the NBA, as evidenced by his ranking among the top four MVP players over the last six seasons.
"Obviously, he wanna win, but if you ain't got the personnel… you gotta be realistic. They don't have a championship team. He ain't gonna go chase it. (But) he need some help, " Pierce said . "The only way I see Golden State getting back to where they need to get to is if they could find a way to get Giannis over there."
The potential pairing of Antetokounmpo with the 3-point maestro could prove transformative. This arrangement would allow the 6'11" forward to concentrate on his interior scoring prowess, mitigating concerns about his long-range shooting.
Even from a defensive standpoint, the presence of the Greek Freaks would enable Draymond Green to shift his focus to perimeter defense. Furthermore, Antetokounmpo's coast-to-coast playing style aligns seamlessly with Coach Kerr's uptempo offensive philosophy.
Nevertheless, for this hypothetical dreamy scenario to take place, the Dubs would have to sacrifice a lot, given that they are already over the tax threshold by a huge margin.
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The Warriors seem content
While the one-time champ might believe that the Warriors need to acquire a superstar to bounce back into the title mix, the team seems pretty satisfied even without landing one . Instead, they believe that the addition of Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and De'Anthony Melton fills their voids and would improve the team's harmony on the court.
That being said, Pierce's assertion is not surprising, especially given how the modern NBA is defined by star-studded teams lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy. However, it will be interesting to see whether the Warriors can defy that trend.
Related: "Anytime he pump fake, you damn near going to jump" – Jeff Teague on the impossible task of guarding Steph Curry
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