Although cool (if we can say so) while 22 teams are splintering in the bubble, the Warriors are already preparing for next season. And for Charles Barkley, they will dispute it with a colossal advantage.
What if, in the end, as bizarre as it sounds, the Warriors had been… lucky? At the end of the cycle last year, the Dubs lost Kevin Durant left for Brooklyn, Klay Thompson to serious injury, then Steph Curry entry to the 2019-2020 season. What quietly tank, ensure a top pick of draft, and regenerate everyone mentally.
The icing on the cake ? With the madness generated by COVID, the 3 quarters of the teams in the league find themselves in a bubble, mentally exhausting, after which it will be necessary to resume the following exercise, probably in December.
It’s a safe bet that once spring comes, many players will stick their tongues out, while the Warriors will be as fresh as roaches. The crucial point? Among the 8 teams whose season ended in March, they are the only ones who can… aim for the title next year.
Read also | Barkley’s crazy (or not) prognosis for the playoffs
And that changes a lot of things, as Charles Barkley explained for NBC:
I think they are going to have a huge advantage because they will be very rested, they will get Klay and Steph back, Wiggins will be there, they are going to have a great pick… The other teams are going to be tired. The following season will soon arrive.
Even though the NBA says they plan to postpone the 2020-2021 season, I think it’s going to get off to a quick start. For me, the Dubs are going to have a huge advantage starting next season.
Line up a mentally and physically regenerated Curry / Thompson / Wiggins trio, add a Draymond Green starving and a potential top pick, all against much less fresh opponents at all levels? Indeed, we can speak of a big advantage.
It remains to be seen whether Steve Kerr’s men will be able to take advantage of this, but there is no doubt that many punters will place a coin on the Dubs at the dawn of the next campaign.
Not crazy, Charles Barkley sees coming a big season of the Warriors in Oakland. Golden State fans are hopeful that for once the Chuckster is right …
–
