It was only a summer ago that expectations for the Golden State Warriors were relatively mild. The Dubs were coming off a 51-win season, sure, but they had lost in the first round of the playoffs, fired head coach Mark Jackson and Andrew Bogut had been unable to stay healthy once again.

Heading into 2014-15, the future looked bright, but nobody knew how high the Dubs’ ceiling was, and how rapidly they’d reach it. Almost everything went right for the Warriors en route to 67 wins and the Larry O’Brien trophy.

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Steve Kerr, a rookie head coach, vastly upgraded the Warriors’ offense AND improved the defense to a league-leading level. Draymond Green became a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Stephen Curry became an MVP, Klay Thompson became an All-NBA third team selection, Bogut was able to stay healthy for the playoffs and Andre Iguodala fully embraced his sixth man role.

With the Warriors coming off a thoroughly convincing championship season and bringing almost everybody back, Golden State will be facing its first season with heightened expectations for the first time in years. In the top-heavy Western Conference, the Dubs will have as tough a task of repeating as any defending champion team we’ve seen over the last 15 years.

2014-15 Vitals

67-15, 1st in Pacific Division, 1st in Western Conference

110.0 PPG (1st)/99.9 OPPG (15th)

111.6 Offensive Rating (2nd)/101.4 Defensive Rating (1st)

Team Leaders

Scoring: Stephen Curry, 23.8 PPG

Rebounding: Draymond Green, 8.2 RPG

Assists: Stephen Curry, 7.7 APG

Steals: Stephen Curry, 2.0 SPG

Blocks: Andrew Bogut, 1.7 BPG

Honors

Most Valuable Player Award: Stephen Curry

Executive of the Year Award: Bob Myers

All-NBA Team (1st): Stephen Curry

All-NBA Team (3rd): Klay Thompson

NBA All-Defensive Team (1st): Draymond Green

NBA All-Defensive Team (2nd): Andrew Bogut