Can the Warriors Dominate a Lakers Team Without LeBron, or Is an Unexpected Upset Brewing?

The Warriors are old. That isn’t really meant to be an insult. Even in pickup games, people who know how to play basketball and how to play together are often just as good, if not better, than the youngsters. Four of the five starters for the Warriors are 35 or older. I assume, if Moses Moody is out, that they will start Buddy Hield. He is younger and more athletic, but this team isn’t going to play above the rim. They are going to continue to run efficient plays, be lethal from deep, and hit a lot of midrange shots. Al Horford should bring a nice combination of decent defense and 3-pt shooting from the center position. The Warriors should be a decent rebounding team as well, with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green both being willing to do the dirty work. I’m not going to say this team will be slow-paced as they still will look to get out in transition, but they are going to be effective in the halfcourt, which is better suited for the playoffs than the regular season. I am a bit concerned about their depth overall, but in a one-game setting, that shouldn’t matter much.