Hmm, since we've last checked in with the Warriors, what's happened? Oh, nothing only EVERYTHING. Everything has happened. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson being 6th and 11th, respectively, in points per game has happened. Steph and Klay in the All-Star weekend 3-point contest happened, with Steph, of course, winning it all. Oh, and the brothers Splash also started for the West in the All-Star game--a West coached by your very own Steve Kerr. The West won. It's no surprise, then, that the Dubs lead the association in shots made, in 3-point percentage, and, duh, points per game.
Steve Kerr is on the very, very short list for coach of the year. Steph is on the super duper short list for MVP. Everybody-Loves-Draymond Green just might be the Defensive Player of the Year. The Golden State Warriors have the best record in the league and have sewn up the number 1 seed in the West. They've lost only 13 games all season. Two of them in Oakland. Two.
Your Golden State Warriors are the best team in the NBA, and it's not even close. I didn't laugh writing that sentence and you probably didn't laugh reading it. That's what's happened this season.
Yes, the Warriors are the best team with the best record, but this isn't the English Premier League--it's the NBA and there are playoffs that need to be played and nothing is promised. There are nine games left in the regular season and the Warriors will need to finish the season strong so they stay sharp in the post-season. It's a good thing, then, that the regular season ends with a practice run through five playoff teams, starting tonight.
The Clippers ended the Warriors' season last year. It took them six games and 46 minutes to bump the Warriors off, but bump they did. Almost immediately, the Warriors laid the foundation for what this season has become. Mark Jackson was fired. Steve Kerr was hired. Kevin Love went to Cleveland and Klay Thompson stayed. David Lee and Andre Iguodala moved to the bench while Draymond and Harrison Barnes moved to the starting squad. That playoff series loss against the Clippers set all of this in motion. Who said L.A. is good for nothing?
Tonight's game is a very possible playoff preview. Currently the 5th seed with only 1.5 games between them and the 2nd-place Grizzlies, the Clippers have been playing hot of late, with the second-best current win streak at seven games. During that streak, they've won by an average of 15 points per game. Not bad. The Warriors, meanwhile, have won their last nine--the longest current streak--and won those games by an average of 18 points. Better. Thing is, though, tonight's game is at Staples Center, in that thing they call a downtown. Not a good place for the Warriors. Going back to last season, including the playoffs, the Warriors have gone 1-7 at Staples when playing the Clippers. We don't know yet if the road to the NBA finals goes through L.A., but if it does, the first step takes place tonight.
Go Dubs!
This Week's Games
Tues: @ the Clippers, 7:30
Thu: v. the Suns, 7:30
Sat: @ the Mavs, 5:30
Sun: @ the Spurs, 4:00
