ESPN: The challenge for the Warriors is whether the veterans are still in a state after 82 games to play in the playoffs

A small lineup used by the Warriors last season

Today ESPN reporter Anthony Slater wrote an article to analyze the hidden dangers of the Warriors next season, all of which are as follows.

With Jimmy Butler turned 36 years old before training camp, Zhu Meng celebrated his 36th birthday in March next year, Stephen Curry reached 38 before next year's playoffs. Not to mention Horford, who has not yet joined, it is expected that the Warriors' definite starters are working hard to fight the erosion of time. Faced with the rising young and increasingly progressive talents in the league, the decline in their form will affect the team's already slim chance of winning the championship.

However, we saw these four players still perform well last season. Curry was selected for the second team of the NBA's All-A-Level Team; Zhu Meng ranked third in the selection of the best defensive player of the year; Butler joined the Warriors and partnered with Curry, helping the team finish the regular season with a record of 22 wins and 5 losses. But the season is a marathon. Opponents won't want to meet a full resting Warriors in the playoffs. The real challenge is how to stay in shape and be threatening after 82 games.

In the past few years, the Warriors have often seemed unscrupulous in the playoffs due to excessive physical exhaustion in March and April to strive for a better ranking. Insiders believe Curry's hamstring strain in the Timberwolves series was due to cumulative fatigue caused by seven first rounds immediately after the play-offs. This season, they need significant improvements from young players to give veterans enough rest while ensuring their playoff position.