The Warriors have beaten or held their own against every team mentioned in the first paragraph; this team is no joke. They might be considered a jump-shooting team, but when was the last time a team that shot primarily jump shots and was also good on the defensive end of the ball?
The Warriors offensive rating is 111.4, their highest since the 2007-2008 season. But what has been more impressive is their efforts defensively. Their defensive rating is 100.7, the best the team has had since 2001. For a team that plays as quick and fast-paced as Golden State does, this defensive rating is actually remarkable. They rank 5th in the league in steals and 5th in the league in blocks, too.
Golden State might shoot a lot of jump shots, but they’re damn good at it. They rank first in the league in two-point field goals at 52 percent and first in three-point percentage at 38.6. They also defend the jump shot well. They hold their opponents to just 33.1 from beyond the arc and 45.5 percent from two-point range. That is good for fourth and first place, respectively. Sounds like a well-rounded defense.
There have been and will be nights where the shots aren’t falling, but that’s okay. There are games where other teams’ frontcourts won’t get the job done. And it’ll be hard for them to succeed in a 7-game series against Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green manning the paint. Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes are both extremely capable on-ball defenders and don’t have to worry about their man getting past them. Curry has a long way to go before reaching the status of Barnes, Thompson, Andre Iguodala and even Shaun Livingston on defense, but there’s no doubt that he is improving and more willing to defend now than ever.
Yes, the games will be slower-paced in the playoffs. Yes, the rotations will be shorter. And yes, the Thunder did get better. But as Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry like to laugh it off when reporters ask if they think about the Thunder in the first round, as should you. In the NBA, an elite champion can handle whatever team is thrown at its way. We’ve seen it before. Dirk Nowitzki and his Mavericks had to go up against powerhouses in their championship season. The second best player on the team was an aging Jason Kidd, but they were able to get the job done.
These Warriors show the same resilience. From the way they carry themselves, to the poise of the coaching staff, to the star power of Stephen Curry and the rise of Klay Thompson, the Dubs are special. Many aren’t sold on them yet, but that’s just okay. They prefer it that way. The underdog role for the Warriors’ is nothing new, they have been doubted before. While people say the Warriors should avoid the Thunder, Spurs, or any other team in the playoffs, this team looks forward to the occasion.
Because the narrative is getting old.
remember alex, neither the thunder nor the spurs had their full squads out there against the W’s. the Warriors haven’t been playing like a playoff winning team since the break. it’s concerning because something seems out of sync! the new player(s) they needed weren’t mcadoo nor holiday, their latest additions. who is the backup center…ezeli? that’s scary! they needed players they didn’t get. all the other contenders, except the Warriors and hawks, made those deals for those players!
Winning in the playoffs will give the Warriors more respect. The western conference is so deep, that just surviving to the conference finals would be a status builder, whether Charles Barkley says so or not. Dubs have a great shot to go deep this year but there are no softies to face in the playoffs like in the other conference.