The margin of error is a phrase thrown about across only one team in the entire National Basketball Association. In the 123-92 ho-hum blowout against the Butler and Wade-less Chicago Bulls, the Warriors showed them what it really means to have a consistent group of superstars. Throughout the dormant parts of a stupendously and stupidly long regular season, not all players will show up. Role players are long more consistent at home, for example. The Warriors, however, rely on a simple equation: just get 2-3 of their superstars play a couple great quarters, and bring it on home.
On Wednesday night, Curry started slow, off the ball, and without much care for his surroundings. Kevin Durant had a great all-around line of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists but coasted without much of an imprint on the game. Part of this is attributed to the lack of an opponent, the other due to the fact they haven’t played in a real game in 4 days. Most times, this leads to what is commonly termed a “trap game”.
Fortunately, the Warriors can rely on the margin of error game in and game out to “coast” to a 65+ win pace. Draymond Green took over with 5 3s, 8 boards and 6 assists. And Klay Thompson paced the team with 28 points throughout the game, starting and ending long runs.
The awe of this attack is easily swept under the current of boredom and sustained excellence throughout this year. For someone new to the game, this was pleasantly displayed by Briante Weber’s reaction on Green’s transition 3 and chest-pound celebration. Throughout an entire timeout, he jumped and badgered Patrick McCaw, imitating the reaction to the point that McCaw even seemed a tad annoyed. Weber who claimed he uses the Warriors in NBA 2K, it’s now an entirely different animal sharing the court with the carousel of superstars.
You can have the two Hall-Of-Fame stars have mediocre games and still pull away in a trap game with your secondary superstars on sheer talent alone. The NBA has never seen anything like this. Michael Jordan ran that Chicago Bulls team from beginning to end. The Showtime Lakers and Bird Celtics were attributed to two pointed legends at the helm. Sure, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will run the show but there’s a certain egalitarian show that makes this Warriors squad that much more unique.
Thompson will have his moment this postseason. Same with Draymond Green. We’re not talking a simple shot or a block, but entire games or series because they’re effective and weathered enough to do it again. The Warriors luxury is that of unparalleled historic precedence. February NBA games will always run toward this same route, with players playing just hard enough to get through the rest of the month, and into the postseason. For these Warriors, they can afford that type of apathy while winning.
And for fans, and Briante Weber, there’s a satisfaction and fascination that comes with witnessing 4 players that can single handedly take over a game alternate superstar performances within the flow of the season.