1. Golden State Warriors
Having the defending champions makes this division much easier to rank. Last year the Warriors breezed through the regular season with a massive win total of 67 wins, Stephen Curry won the MVP, and the Dubs lost just five games in the 2015 playoffs to win the championship.
So where are the Warriors now? Well, they kept their tough guy in Draymond Green, and more importantly, they really did not lose anyone off their spectacular bench. The only contributor leaving the Warriors is David Lee, and let’s be honest, they basically won last year without him playing so I think the Warriors will do just fine in his absence.
Last year Golden State exceeded everybody’s expectations and had a historic year. But this year presents a new challenge for the Warriors, because now they have a giant target on their back. Fending off all the contenders in the West is a tall order and teams like San Antonio, Houston, LAC and Memphis did not get any worse over the offseason.
That said, I am fully confident that the Warriors will not only win the Pacific, but also prove themselves to be the favorites in the West, even with San Antonio’s addition of LaMarcus Aldridge.
Projected Record: 66-16
Next: Drawing Up Potential Markieff Morris Trades
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