Stephen A. Smith: Golden State Warriors will beat Brooklyn Nets to repeat as champions
After a rough patch that saw them get to the bottom of the standings, the Golden State Warriors climbed to the mountaintop last season. Led by an incredible postseason stretch from Steph Curry, they cemented themselves as a dynasty with a win over the Boston Celtics in the finals.
With their core still intact, Golden State is not done trying to add titles to their resume. Besides the trio of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green still performing at a high level, they also have a strong supporting cast.
As the regular season gets ready to begin, everyone has begun making their predictions for who will win this year's finals. During a recent episode of ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on how the season will play out. He thinks the Warriors are going to take down the Brooklyn Nets and repeat as NBA champions:
"They're going to repeat as the NBA champions. But in order to do it, they will beat the Brooklyn Nets."
"[The Golden State Warriors] are going to repeat as the NBA champions, but in order to do it: They will beat the Brooklyn Nets."
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Can the Golden State Warriors repeat as NBA champions in 2023?
It might not be as simple as Stephen A. Smith is making it out to be. But there is a chance the Golden State Warriors could repeat as NBA champs this year. They have set themselves up nicely long term to maximize their window of contention.
For starters, they still have star power. At 34-years-old, Steph Curry is still one of the top players in the league. His numbers might not be flashy in the regular season, but he proved in the last playoffs that he can elevate his game when needed.
Another thing Golden State has going for them is a strong supporting cast. Klay Thompson is still able to contribute, and the addition of Andrew Wiggins has been a huge upgrade on the perimeter.
On top of that, they have promising young talents like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga who will only improve as they gain more experience.
The final factor that will give them an edge is that they understand what it takes to win at the highest level. Having won multiple titles over the past decade, they have more postseason experience than the contenders around them.
While the Warriors might have their sights set on a title, the road ahead is not going to be easy. The Western Conference is loaded with teams who could very well pose a threat to the reigning champions.
The two teams that could dethrone them are the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Both squads are fully healthy for the first time in nearly two years, and are looking to make a statement.
There are also young teams that will be looking to prove themselves. The Memphis Grizzlies are another year older, and likely won't forget that Golden State knocked them out of the playoffs last year. The Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans also have two younger squads that could surprise a lot of people this year.
The competition is stiff, but Golden State still belongs in the conversation of teams who could potentially win it all this season.