Golden State Warriors: Are They Championship Contenders?

1. Their playoff run gave them invaluable experience.

May 14, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the second half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the AT

Last season, the Warriors were labeled as too young or too inexperienced to even make the playoffs, or win a playoff series. However, the Warriors proved everyone wrong and won, despite being labeled as underdogs.

The Warriors were two wins away from going to the Western Conference Finals last year. This was quite the achievement given that Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut were injured and that three of the main contributors on the team in the playoffs (Festus Ezeli, Draymond Green, and Harrison Barnes) were rookies.

In addition to their players getting more experience in the playoffs, Mark Jackson also got experience managing games in a playoff atmosphere. As many people say, experience wins playoff games, and this certainly applies to Jackson too.

All of the knowledge that the players and Jackson gained from the last season’s playoffs will help them learn how to win more playoff games this upcoming season.