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NBA: Previewing the Pacific Division

By Tj Porreca

Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) smiles as he addresses the crowd after the Lakers defeat of the Utah Jazz in the final game of his career at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) smiles as he addresses the crowd after the Lakers defeat of the Utah Jazz in the final game of his career at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors

Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant (center) addresses the media with head coach Steve Kerr (left) and general manager Bob Myers (right) during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant (center) addresses the media with head coach Steve Kerr (left) and general manager Bob Myers (right) during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The Golden State Warriors will certainly be watched closely this season. They will be vilified and scrutinized, but they should win plenty of games.

74 wins, however, should not be the goal.

The Warriors arguably got burnt out last season after going 73-9 and losing Stephen Curry for a portion of the playoffs. Golden State was then outplayed by the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.

As a result, Golden State went out and signed Kevin Durant away from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As it pertains to both the division and the conference, the Warriors expect to rank first in each. It’s easy to say that adding Durant to a 73-win team equates to a finals appearance, but there is a reason they play the games.

The Warriors will have a target on their backs all season long, even more so than the Cavaliers. Golden State will get every team’s best shot night in and night out, but they simply have so many weapons on the roster. Durant, Curry and Klay Thompson can all take over a game if need be, and Draymond Green is such a versatile player in his own right.

Next: What is the Ceiling of the Nets Young Guns?

When the Big Three first convened in South Beach, the Miami Heat actually lost in the finals in their first year together. This Warriors team will be hoping for a different result, which would be their second title in the past three years.