Warriors 2015-16 Preview: Forwards better on court than on paper

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As the Warriors embark on the quest to win back-to-back NBA titles, we will preview the team, position by position, prior to opening night.

Group 2: Forwards

Starters: Draymond Green (6-7, 230) and Harrison Barnes (6-8, 225).

Green last season finished with most first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year but finished second overall because he somehow was left completely off 42 ballots. While center Andrew Bogut stood sentry at the rim, Green was the guardian of the paint and beyond.

[RELATED: Warriors 2015-16 Preview: Assortment of riches at center]

Indeed, Green as a first-year starter was the catalyst behind the team’s rapid rise last season. His combination of toughness, energy and smarts and a wonderful feel for the game doesn’t jump off the screen – unless you’re looking for someone who knows where to be, when to be there and how to get the most out of his teammates.

Barnes last season returned to the starting lineup, after a one-year absence, and provided a tantalizing yet maddening mix of spectacular highlights and invisible moments. He was arguably the best fourth option (on offense) in the league. He also was the starter most likely to miss a defensive rotation or get lost on the court.

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Barnes has shown the ability to defend either forward position as well as score on just about any forward in the league. Barnes will be the owner of a lucrative new contract extension – or trying to do his part to prove he deserves a big payday next summer. Barnes has one goal and it’s not a new one: consistency.

Reserves: Andre Iguodala (6-6, 215), Kevon Looney (6-9, 220), James Michael McAdoo (6-9, 240) and Brandon Rush (6-6, 220).

Iguodala, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, has evolved from starter to perhaps the most important reserve in the league. He plays multiple positions, is comfortable on or off the ball and has a knack for discerning the best way to make an impact. He is, more than anyone else, the reason why the Warriors use depth to beat opponents.

Looney, the only true rookie on the team, will miss most, if not all, of the season as he rehabilitates from surgery on his right hip.

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McAdoo doesn’t have a shot, is not a classic sculptured power forward and won’t play a lot of minutes. What he brings, though, is energy comparable to that of Green, effective length in the paint, and a unique ability – on this team – to play above the rim. He can be productive in spot minutes while still learning the game.

Rush last season was the forgotten man, and he can blame poor conditioning. A good 3-point shooter forgot how to shoot. A good defender couldn’t defend. He’s healthy and all indications are that he’s primed for a comeback year. If Rush can regain anything close to the effectiveness he had three years ago, he’ll contribute.

Overall:
The Warriors lack a power forward who is a nightly 18-and-10 threat. What they have are versatile players capable of mixing and matching. Every forward can slide to the other forward spot or play guard. Or, in the case of Green, play center if the situation calls for overdrive. This group is better on the court than on paper.

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