Warriors Rely on 40-Year-Old Veteran to Return to Contention; Horford Becomes Kerr's Secret Weapon Alongside Curry

Although the Golden State Warriors did not sign a star player during the offseason, the team's management made reasonable roster adjustments aimed at maintaining enough competitiveness to continue pursuing a championship in the new season. While the current roster is not as strong as in previous years, strong tactical adaptation could still allow them to achieve good results in the Western Conference.

For the Warriors, Curry is the team's most important pillar. Since joining the Warriors, he has gradually developed into the unquestioned core of the team and has helped bring four championships to the franchise. However, as he gets older, Curry's physical condition and injury risk have also increased. If the Warriors want Curry to continue delivering in crucial moments, they need to manage his workload properly and provide more rest so he can perform better against strong opponents.

To achieve this goal, the Warriors strengthened their existing roster during the offseason, especially by adding shooters on the perimeter. Management not only brought in new players but also retained as much of last season's core rotation as possible, particularly veteran Horford after his contract extension, providing support for the small-ball system. From a tactical perspective, Horford's importance to the team is comparable to Curry's.

Last season, when Horford was brought in, he was expected to greatly improve the Warriors' tactical flexibility, but his performance early in the season did not meet expectations. Fortunately, the coaching staff continued to trust Horford, especially after Butler missed time due to injury, giving him more opportunities to play. Through tactical adjustments, Horford gradually regained his form. If not for the limited adjustment time, his performance could have been even better.

When Horford handles the ball on the perimeter, opponents often apply tight defense because they respect his shooting ability. At the same time, he can create quality passing opportunities through mismatches using his size advantage. In addition, Horford is skilled in pick-and-roll play, and his actions after rolling to the basket have not only expanded the Warriors' offensive options but also improved the team's offensive flow.

Horford's tactical contributions are not limited to offense; his defensive intelligence and efficiency are also highly valuable. He can effectively defend bigger interior players and is skilled at identifying opponents' weaknesses for targeted defensive strategies. When teammates make defensive mistakes, he can quickly provide help defense. With Horford's presence, the Warriors' defensive system will become more complete, making their transition between offense and defense more balanced.

The Warriors' management hopes to make another championship push before Curry retires. Although the team is relatively old overall, it still has a group of experienced veterans who remain in good form. If Horford can stay healthy and perform well, the Warriors can still use their intimidating small-ball tactics to pursue strong results in the new season.