Dynasties often rule the NBA, but we're in an era of relative parity: We've seen four different champions and seven different finalists over the last four years. This coming season again features an uncommonly deep field of contenders. We're laying out reasons to believe in them and reasons to doubt them.

Over the past two days, we broke down the reasons to believe in, and the reasons to doubt, the Eastern Conference's primary and secondary contenders. Next up, the top tier of the West.

Golden State Warriors

Reasons to believe: The obvious reason to believe in the Warriors is that virtually the same team won the championship four months ago, and history has shown that when Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are all healthy, Golden State gets to the Finals.

Losing Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. could hurt their bench, but the expected contributions of youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman – the latter of whom missed all of last season with a knee injury – could offset those losses by making the defending champs a much more athletic team. Wiseman, in particular, will help the Warriors match up with the league's more mobile and athletic big men in ways the steady Kevon Looney can't.

In addition, Donte DiVincenzo might've been the most underrated acquisition of the offseason. He was one of the league's premier perimeter defenders before he tore a left ankle ligament in the 2021 playoffs, and his playmaking and shooting ability should shine in Steve Kerr's system.

Meanwhile, Jordan Poole figures to continue his ascent as a burgeoning offensive star, and 2022 All-Star Andrew Wiggins has settled into a perfect role as a tertiary scorer and impact defender.

The Warriors will look slightly different than they did when they lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, but this version of the team might actually have a higher ceiling.

Reasons to doubt: For one, the big three of Curry, Green, and Thompson are another year older, and the team is already being cautious with Klay in the preseason. This roster looks good on paper, but if one of the core trio is banged up and youngsters like Kuminga and Wiseman aren't ready to consistently produce, depth could certainly be an issue.

Off the court, the champs may be undone by money-related infighting. With Poole and Wiggins potentially due for big raises while Green comes to terms with the fact he won't get anything close to max money at this stage of his career, tensions may run high. The issue has already reared its ugly head, with Green punching Poole in a preseason practice.

Is it possible Green, Poole, and the rest of the Warriors get past this and roll to another title? Of course, but it's hard to believe a team will stick together and sing kumbaya for eight months when the first sign of trouble came a week into training camp.