After losing in the conference semifinals to the San Antonio Spurs, 4-2, the Golden State Warriors head into this season with high hopes. It’s not just an achievement making it to the playoffs this year, their goal now is championship or bust.

The Warriors have a lot to be excited about, starting with one of the game’s most electrifying players, Stephen Curry. But for all the hype surrounding this team, it’s easy to forget that it won just 47 games in 2012-13, only two more than the Los Angeles Lakers squad that was viewed as a major failure.

The Warriors added both star power and roster depth this summer. The most prominent addition is that of small forward Andre Iguodala. Just as vital to the team’s success, however, will be newcomers Jermaine O’Neal, Marreese Speights and Toney Douglas, whom are going to be replacing the leadership and talent of Carl Landry, Jarrett Jack and Brandon Rush.

What the addition of Andre Iguodala adds to the team is physicality and defense. The defense was decent last season, ranking 19th in defense, according to hoopsstats.com. The addition of Iguodala, along with a healthy and newly-resigned Andrew Bogut, should help shore up and improve the defense.

Yet with a team with such high expectations comes the pressure of living up to it. The Warriors, with all the great young talent, have glaring weakness that could derail a real promising season. As Curry and Bogut have a history of injuries and there’s still going to be concern about their durability. Also, it’s still a pretty young team, averaging about 26 years and the fact that there is not a lot of playoff experience, except for last year’s magical run. O’Neal is the only member of the team to ever make it to a Conference Finals, yet he’s not a key guy.

Yet even with all the odds, this Warriors team has a chance to do something really special, so buckle up and enjoy the ride; It’s going to be a long season ahead.

Projected Line-Up
PG- Stephen Curry
SG- Klay Thompson
SF-Andre Iguodala
PF-David Lee
C-Andrew Bogut

Bench
SF-Harrsion Barnes
G- Toney Douglas
F/C- Marreese Speights
SF/PF- Draymond Green
C- Festus Ezeli
C-Jermaine O’Neal
G-Kent Bazemore