The Warriors are going to look a lot different this season compared to the prior five years.
Yes, Steph Curry and Draymond Green are back, and the Dubs were able to re-sign Kevon Looney. But the roster consists of eight new players and Klay Thompson will be sidelined for months as he rehabs his left ACL tear.
Steve Kerr recently admitted to Anthony Slater of The Athletic that he and the coaching staff need to tweak the offense. But don't expect wholesale changes.
"I don't think it's going to look drastically different," the coach said. "But all you have to do is look at the roster and you see the continuity we've lost.
"When you lose continuity, it's more important to have sets and calls that you can rely on. Random stuff gets more difficult if you don't know each other well."
Since Kerr arrived in May 2014, the Warriors have been near the bottom of the league every season in pick-and-roll usage.
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When factoring in everything that has transpired this offseason, that could be changing. And general manager Bob Myers eluded to just that last month:
Bob Myers on D'Angelo Russell: "The ability to shoot has never been more important. The ability to play the pick-and-roll, which we will - and Steve (Kerr) has acknowledged - have to do a little bit differently..." Those who have been screaming for more Steph PnR will be happy https://t.co/PEO98GLtUM— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) August 16, 2019
The Curry-Draymond pick-and-roll is one of the most lethal plays in all of sports and it's possible we see a lot more of it in the coming months.
D'Angelo Russell thrives in ball-screen situations, and he will his get fair share of opportunities as well. But Kerr isn't going to abandon his principles and basketball philosophy.
"Early on, anyway, we're going to look at different sets and calls that get guys into positions where they can succeed," Kerr added. "Then the system sort of grows from there."
[REWIND: Kerr's early message to Warriors fans about next season]
And then more tweaks will come if/when Klay returns late in the season.
As the Warriors navigate their new reality, the 2019-20 campaign is going to be a bumpy ride.
