Three questions for Golden State Warriors heading into 2023-24 season

After a disappointing finish to last season, the Golden State Warriors have reloaded, acquiring future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul and adding depth to the second unit with players like European big man Dario Sarić

There's still the belief the Warriors' championship window remains open, particularly as Stephen Curry remains at the peak of his powers. Yet, uncertainties linger.

Here are three pressing questions ahead of the season:

What is the starting five? The big question on everyone's mind.
Will Paul be a starter? If so, for whom? Will Golden State really start three guards alongside a 6-foot-6 center (Draymond Green)? At least until Green recovers from his sprained ankle, it seems probable that Paul will start.  

"Kerr was discussing this team's theoretical second unit. Paul will start in the preseason opener on Saturday next to Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Kevon Looney." The Athletic's Anthony Slater said. "He may find his way into the starting lineup regularly even when Green is back. But it's clear Paul's rotation pattern will have him on the floor when Curry sits. It was maybe the main reason for the trade."

There's no question the Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr are going to experiment and mix and match many lineups. But the big question remains: Is a three-guard starting lineup effective in today's NBA? Last season's experience with Jordan Poole starting suggested otherwise.
Last season, the Warriors' starting five of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Green and Looney was statistically (by far) the best starting lineup. In 27 games together, this group had an offensive rating of 128 (No. 1), a defensive rating of 106.1 (No. 1) and a net rating of 21.9 (No. 1). Why go away from this proven lineup that's showcased overwhelming success?

Will this team get back to defensive excellence? Two years ago, when Golden State won the NBA championship, they were tied with the Boston Celtics as the No. 1 ranked defense in the NBA, with a defensive rating of 106.9. Their defense was their championship ticket, not their offense.

Throughout all four of their championship runs, as stellar as their offense has been, their defense has been just as great, if not even better.

Last season, with a defensive rating of 114.4 (17th in the NBA), they were ousted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

The correlation is obvious: When the Warriors combine a top-tier defense with their potent offense, they become nearly unbeatable in a seven-game series.

If the Warriors are to win their fifth championship in 10 years, they must get back to being one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

How will Chris Paul impact Golden State's offense? Golden State's signature "motion" offense, featuring Curry and Thompson is renowned. Their dynamic off-ball movement not only creates many opportunities for themselves but opens up the floor for the entire offense. At first glance, that's not Paul's forte, especially at 38 years old.

"We're going to run plenty of pick-and-roll because Chris is one of the best pick-and-roll players in the world," Kerr told reporters on media day as reported by Slater of The Athletic. "But he's also showing he's very interested in incorporating some of the stuff we already do - our split cut game and movement. He's such a smart player that he's already figured out ways to be effective. We're going to lean into him and he's going to lean into us, and we'll meet halfway and the offense will form."

Paul's pick-and-roll ability adds an additional layer to this offense. The combination of Paul's pick-and-roll acumen with the athleticism of players like Jonathan Kuminga could be electrifying. Paul will also likely play a role similar to Green, orchestrating split actions and facilitating the Warriors' motion offense.

It will be intriguing to see the synergy between Paul and Golden State's established offensive system. It seems to be Kerr is hinting at a game of give-and-take between the two styles depending on who is on the floor at the time.