Three X-Factors Who Could Define Warriors' Season

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will remain at the center of everything the Warriors do, but after Golden State finished 37-45 last season, the same stars cannot be expected to solve every problem again.

The front office kept several experienced players and added a promising rookie, which gives the roster more options, but it also leaves much of the season depending on three players with important roles and real questions.

Brandin Podziemski is the first x-factor because the Warriors need another guard who can settle the offense, create a good shot, and keep the team organized when Curry is resting.

Podziemski played all 82 games last season and averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, and while those numbers show his value, Golden State now needs him to become a more dependable creator.

The Warriors also have a long-term decision coming with Podziemski, and this season could shape his next contract.

If he can get into the paint, make the next pass, and defend without fouling, the second unit will have more structure and Curry will not have to rescue as many empty possessions.

Kristaps Porzingis is the second x-factor because his shooting and size can change the way teams defend Golden State, but his value will depend on how often he is available.

Porzingis averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 32 games last season, and a healthy version of him can protect the rim, pull opposing centers away from the basket, and give Curry another dangerous pick-and-pop option.

Bringing Porzingis back gives Golden State more spacing, but the Warriors need more than a good fit on paper, especially after injuries kept him from building a steady rhythm.

If he can stay on the floor, Podziemski should have more room to drive, Curry should see fewer crowded lanes, and the offense can become less dependent on difficult shots late in the clock.

Yaxel Lendeborg is the third x-factor after the Warriors selected him with the No. 11 pick, and his Summer League play showed a forward who can rebound, pass, defend different positions, and help without forcing shots.

Golden State's championship run in Las Vegas was an early test, but Lendeborg looked comfortable doing the smaller things that can earn a rookie regular minutes.

Curry understands that Golden State still has questions, and when Marcus Thompson II asked about the team, Curry said, “I'm a realist on that.”

The Warriors do not need Podziemski, Porzingis, and Lendeborg to become stars, but they need each player to solve a different problem, with Podziemski creating, Porzingis staying available, and Lendeborg defending well enough to remain in the rotation.

Their games should also help each other, because better creation from Podziemski can produce open shots for Porzingis, while Lendeborg's defense can cover difficult assignments and save energy for the older players.

There is risk with all three, but if two of them become dependable, Golden State should be deeper and more balanced, and if all three deliver, Curry and Green may have enough help for another meaningful run in the Western Conference.