Player of the Week:
Stephen Curry — I was leaning toward Andrew Bogut, but after Curry’s huge game against the Jazz on Friday, the choice was clear. In his three games this week, Curry averaged 29.6 points on 56 percent shooting and 5 assists. He is the main reason behind Golden State’s current two-game win streak. It appeared that Lee’s absence in the Utah game was going to give Mark Jackson’s club their second loss in three games, but Curry put on a one-man show in the fourth that opened up an opportunity for the Warriors to secure a victory.
Honorable Mention:
David Lee — Yes, David Lee. He was basically a non-factor in their loss to Washington. (11 points, 20 percent shooting) But the Golden State power forward really turned his play around in their stomping of the Los Angeles Clippers. He recorded his 25th double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. David Lee’s importance to this roster was evident last night against the Jazz. Harrison Barnes was given the start at the 4-spot, and did not produce much of anything. The game was too close for comfort, and it forced the masses to believe that if Lee had been playing, the game might have been over long before Curry erupted in the later stages. Lee is still needing anti-inflammatory injections to aid his sprained shoulder, and his hip is still giving him issues.
Andrew Bogut — I Saved the best for last. It was a lot of fun watching Andrew Bogut this week. He filled up the Warriors World highlight-reel. Bogut displayed an array of different moves throughout the week. The defensive powerhouse was drilling 20-foot jumpers, soaring to pin shots on the glass, and most recently played a little point guard; Bogut brought the ball up, crossover dribbled to the right side of the floor and delivered a laser to a cutting Stephen Curry. His offensive production in the Washington game was nothing special, but his effort on the glass in his last three games averages out to 16 per game, ranking him among the league leaders. Bogut is asked to protect the rim, but his scoring in the paint really picked up this week. He posted 14 points against the Clippers and 16 against the Jazz. He’ll have a tough task defending Al Jefferson on February 4th, but he can continue his trend of double digit scoring; it is no secret that Jefferson struggles defensively.
Rest Up, Come Back Ready For Next Week:
Harrison Barnes — Harrison Barnes is given significant minutes, but struggles to give Mark Jackson something to work with. His production this week…. Lets just move on from that, anyone can look at the game logs. After showing signs of pure brilliance in last year’s playoffs, Barnes has hit the sophomore slump and hit it hard. His shooting percentages have been bottom tier, and his rebounding numbers are below average which is surprising given how strong he is. It is unclear what Mark Jackson will do with Barnes minutes. It’s also surprising and quite frankly alarming why Barnes is given so many opportunities when he is not producing anything positive. Jackson seems stuck on his series with San Antonio last year where Barnes had some success, but keep in mind he was posting up Tony Parker. Lets see how Barnes responds next week.
Andre Iguodala — The Warriors’ defensive ace, to put it bluntly, was terrible this week. No double digit scoring performances, and low shooting percentages. All in all, Iguodala is one of the most important players for the Warriors. His numbers never take over a stat sheet, but he is capable of making a big play when needed; he is also a willing to slide into any role and is a great leader. This off week is nothing to look too much into, Iguodala will come back ready to perform at a much higher rate.
Overall: The Warriors are a team that struggles to piece together impressive win streaks. Aside from their 10-game streak earlier in the year, they have failed to display complete dominance. Stephen Curry is the team’s best player, he showcases excellent play on a nightly basis, but he needs his teammates to do their part more regularly. If not, they could run into some trouble in the postseason. Curry and the Warriors look to extend their current streak to 3 games when they host the Bobcats on February 4th.