The Warriors lineup is seriously aging and has been eliminated early, and Clay s departure has become the team s biggest defeat

Nowadays, player trading and signing in the NBA free market are very popular, and the Western Conference's strong players have made various strengthenings, but the Golden State Warriors seem to be a bit contrary. In the free market, they only signed veteran Al Horford who was abandoned by the Celtics, and also lost the former championship center Looney. In this way, Curry, Butler, Green and Horford are all over 35 years old in the team's starting lineup, and the aging is very serious.

In fact, the Warriors' decline was destined from the moment Klay Thompson left. The Warriors' outstanding results in four years and three championships are closely related to the players in the two positions. First of all, in the small forward position, the Warriors always have top 3D players or stars in the league. In the early days, Barnes and Iguodala were at the quasi-All-star level, with solid defense and stable shooting. Durant, Wiggins and Butler today are all All-Star forwards, and they are not ruthless at critical moments. Even Wiggins, who has been criticized, can shoulder the heavy responsibility of both offense and defense when the team needs it.

Another position is Thompson on the point guard. Clay was the top 3D defender in the league. He became the best restraining point around Curry and the most stable second pass point around Green. Even though his defense and movement gradually declined after a serious injury, his opponent still did not dare to short this historical pitcher. As long as he was on the court, his opponent would have to keep a guard against him.

After Clay left the Warriors, Curry seemed a little unbearable on the offensive end. Although Hilder, who was introduced in the later stage and Pojemsky, who was independently trained, also performed well, he could not provide stable firepower output and defense like Clay, especially decisive moves and hits at the decisive moment. After he switched to the Mavericks, even though he had a low shooting percentage or even failed to hit three-pointers in many games, he still averaged 14 points per game and his outside shooting percentage remained at a high level of 39%. And this is when his playing time and shooting times are at a career low.

The Warriors in the new season will probably become difficult in the West, and it will be difficult to advance even in the playoffs. Whether forcing Clay to leave was the beginning of the Warriors' decline next season will be clear.