Though a handful of familiar faces will be seen taking the court next season, this will be a year dominated by firsts for Golden State—one that the team hopes will culminate in its first playoff appearance since 2007.

 

In fact, after spending an extensive stretch amongst the NBA's basement teams, decimating their roster and trading away a franchise cornerstone and beloved athlete in Monta Ellis, anything less than a playoff berth is a failure for the Warriors.

 

Like it or not, Golden State mortgaged not only its direction, but a large portion of its future. Subsequently, the time for a resurgence is now, not later.

 

But do the new-look Warriors have the talent necessary to reverse their span of misfortune and rise to the inescapable occasion?