By Lauren Dougherty ’19,  Staff Writer

The Golden State Warriors have one of the deadliest starting lineups of all time: two-time reigning MVP Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and their newest addition, 2014 MVP Kevin Durant. Last year, the Warriors seemed to be unbeatable—they had a record-breaking season, finishing with a 73-9 regular season record, despite losing in the Finals. With their new identity as a “superteam,” it was only natural to assume that they would exceed last year’s expectations; however, their record is already at 23-4, and they started off much slower than predicted.

Their first loss was in their season opener against the San Antonio Spurs and was described as a “slap in the face” by Durant. Their second loss was much more unexpected—to the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only did the Warriors lose again, but the relatively young Lakers team also put an end to Curry’s 157 game streak with a three pointer. So what are the reasons for this underwhelming start?

One of the most obvious is the Warrior’s lack of defense and depth. With the acquisition of Durant came the loss of their starting center Andrew Bogut and other centers Festus Ezeli and Mareese Speights. Bogut’s replacement, Zaza Pachulia, is having trouble fulfilling his role. Zaza’s lack of athleticism is leaving the Warriors with a void in terms of rim protectors. This lack of rim protection, especially for Golden State, is exposed against teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers; this was apparent in last year’s NBA finals, where they blew a 3-1 series lead. When Bogut was injured in Game 5, Lebron easily seized the rim and continuously scored, hurting the Warriors. Not only is their lack of rim protection a severe liability, but also they are also one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the NBA. Overall, their defense is lacking.

Another reason for the Warrior’s unexpected slump is their chemistry. With three of the best shooters in the NBA and only one ball, it is only logical that the Warriors will have to adjust their playing style. So far neither Steph Curry nor Kevin Durant has had to change their playing style a lot or sacrifice shots. Klay Thompson struggled ever so slightly at the beginning of the season, but now seems to be settling back in, scoring 18 points in the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in week 3 of the season. The Warrior’s lack of chemistry also stems from their loss of many players from previous seasons, including Bogut, Ezeli, and Speights, as well as Harrison Barnes, Leandro Barbosa, and Brandon Rush.

Despite what seemed to many to be a rocky start, the Warriors are bouncing back. After not making a single 3 pointer in the game against the Lakers, Steph Curry hit an NBA record 13 threes in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Samarth Desu ’19 said in response to the Warrior’s underwhelming start, “I think they’ll come back from it. They look similar to the beginning of the Miami superteam.”

In the grand scheme of things, the Warriors are not doing poorly at all. The NBA season is long—a “slow” start does not necessarily predict the outcome of the season. The Newark Academy Football team had a relatively slow start, losing all of their first 6 games; however, they still ended doing very well in their league. Just like high school sports, NBA teams are not always predictable. While many thought having the dominant superteam Warriors would take away from the excitement of the NBA, it does not seem to be the case. The Warriors are not a “fixed” team and still have their weaknesses, just like everyone else. However, it is important to understand that the Warriors are still adjusting, having a relatively small number of returning players and adding superstar Kevin Durant to their lineup. Once they progress through the season and grow stronger as a team, it is scary to think of what they will be able to accomplish.