The Warriors Have the Blueprint in Front of Them

This year’s NBA Finals showcase two of the league’s best offensively and defensively.

The Pacers and Thunder are both led by star point guards who hit their peak just in time for the playoffs. But they didn’t get there by themselves.

Their roster construction is one that many teams, specifically the Warriors, would greatly benefit from implementing ahead of the 2025-2026 season. 

Depth

This season, the Warriors learned the hard way what happens not only when your two best players are 35 and over, but also when the players surrounding the stars aren’t built to carry heavy loads.

In each of Oklahoma City’s and Indiana’s wins in the finals, Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had major help from their supporting cast. 

The versatility of the players on each team is crucial, especially as the series progresses. For instance, Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso’s ability to be defensive menaces and hit shots has been critical for OKC.

The aggression of those players, along with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins, allows them to be a threat on both the defensive and offensive ends.

The Thunder’s ability to shift lineups and push out two-way players like factory machines ensures there is consistent defensive chaos.

Indiana’s historic comebacks and impressive playoff wins were largely fueled by its depth as well.

Pascal Siakam has shown he is more than capable of being a leading scorer on any given night. Tyrese Haliburton’s stunning game winner was the result of various players hitting the most opportune shots- Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin.

T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin had shining moments, too. These contributions ultimately helped the Pacers mount the fourth quarter comeback on the road. 

When the ball finds its way to one of the Pacers’ players-not named Haliburton or Siakam-late in games, Indiana fans don’t have to panic. The same is true when Tyrese Haliburton goes for a rest on the bench.

The trust Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle have in their teams boosts the confidence of players who very well may be the X-Factor in winning a championship. 

The Dubs’ Flaws

Post trade deadline, the Warriors’ primary issues came when Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III were not on the court.

This was most glaring during their playoff series against the Timberwolves. Butler, who had been shouldering the load after Curry went down, ran out of gas as the series wore on. Brandon Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Buddy Hield were essentially no-shows.

The offense became overly passive and far too reliant on ball movement. It became concerning to the point that it appeared players’ confidence had dwindled. 

Moody was unable to buy a shot, and his defensive game wasn’t strong enough to compensate for his lackluster offense. Buddy Hield, known as a three-point shooter, struggled defensively and couldn’t find his three-point rhythm.

As well as Brandin Podziemski played with Curry and Butler, he looked lost against the Wolves’ tough, athletic defenders. He once again passed up shots that would have eased Butler’s burden had he at least been a threat. Jonathan Kuminga was the only player who looked lively and aggressive, capitalizing on his extended playing time. 

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The largely one-dimensional games of Gary Payton II, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney almost guaranteed them as non-factors offensively. All three primarily thrive when on the court with Curry, further exacerbating his loss.

These issues were most glaring in Curry’s absence, but had been there even before the Minnesota series. They had just been mitigated when the greatest shooter of all time was on the court with them.

The lack of size and rebounding didn’t help either.

Offseason

In the midst of trade season, the Warriors’ front office should pick up on what has made the two teams left successful. Stars can elevate a team to championship caliber, but it is a team’s depth that ultimately helps sustain it.

Haliburton and SGA can only take their team so far individually. Their teams’ versatility is what has allowed for their long playoff runs.

Golden State has many questions to answer about their roster this offseason, but they have a pretty good blueprint right in front of them.