Forget the rating. Forget the win-loss document. Forget Tuesday night time’s loss. The finest staff within the Western Conference stepped on the ground Wednesday night time in San Francisco the second Stephen Curry rejoined his staff after lacking 11 video games with a shoulder damage.
The Golden State Warriors, well being permitting, would be the staff to beat out West. Everyone else continues to be chasing them, pretenders to a throne the Warriors nonetheless firmly name their very own.
Yes, certain, it is true, Curry’s return coincided with a stumble in opposition to the depleted Phoenix Suns, a 125-113 loss to a staff that had entered the sport on a six-game shedding streak. The defeat dropped Golden State beneath .500, to 20-21. Curry shot poorly from three. Klay Thomspon, too. And the staff has now misplaced three in a row. To sub-par groups. At dwelling, no much less.
All sound and fury signaling precisely nothing. Not in the long term. Not in what issues.
Numerous conversations with rival GMs and others across the NBA over the past week strengthened the sensation that Steph Curry & Co. are the staff to beat out West, latest struggles however.
Curry is again, and which means the Warriors that received the final NBA title are nonetheless well-positioned to win the subsequent NBA title.
This was the primary time since Dec. 2 the Warriors vaunted beginning 5 had performed collectively — Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney and Andrew Wiggins. It will take some time for this group to get into rhythm once more. Same for Curry, after one recreation again, and Wiggins, in solely his second recreation since his damage, to do the identical individually.
But they may.
And once they do they’re going to boast essentially the most formidable drive within the league.
Literally.
Entering the sport, these 5 Warriors have been the very best beginning 5 within the league. Strike that. They have been the very best five-man rotation within the recreation. By a large margin.
At simply 278 minutes collectively, they nonetheless carried a +132 over this season.
That’s noticeably higher than the Denver Nuggets beginning lineup, a staff that’s ostensibly the Western Conference’s finest since they’re tied for first at 27-13. Yet on Wednesday morning that group was +109 in 301 minutes.
In reality, the Nuggets spot atop the West’s standings completely illustrates an attention-grabbing, crowded however removed from fear-inducing group of groups within the convention. The East has many true, clear contenders. But out West, solely the Warriors, when wholesome as they have been Tuesday, and when they’re clicking collectively as they are going to be quickly, can say the identical.
Denver’s protection is a big postseason legal responsibility. The staff they’re presently tied with, the Memphis Grizzlies, no less than to my eye, could be the non-Warriors staff I’d put my cash on, however their youth and at occasions careless enthusiasm makes their short-term championship prospects questionable, even for these of us that consider strongly of their long-term upside.
The West, exterior of the Warriors, is a working listing of excellent or attention-grabbing however finally susceptible groups.
The New Orleans Pelicans? … They is perhaps a menace with a wholesome Zion Williamson. They are definitely no contender with out him, and his newest damage is one other reminder that counting on Zion’s availability is an actual gamble.
The Dallas Mavericks? … Luka Doncic is unbelievable, however he has too little assist, and a poor protection behind him. As one scout instructed me this week, “The drawback with Luka is basically he does a lot for his staff, he inevitably wears himself down by the point the playoffs roll round. He wants assist simply to have the power to get by way of a protracted playoff run.”
The Sacramento Kings? … Sure, mild the beam. This squad is enjoyable, and explosive offensively. But they don’t seem to be a menace in a playoff sequence.
The Los Angeles Clippers? … Circle again when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George cease being part-time gamers.
The Los Angeles Lakers? … I’m kidding.
Even the Suns, who beat Golden State in Steph’s return, are a shell of their former selves. As a second scout put it: “Chris Paul is washed.” And if CP3 is washed — and it appears attainable — so are the Suns championships hopes.
But the principle purpose the Warriors are the staff to beat is as a result of they’re nonetheless the Warriors. Curry’s tough begin to the sport Tuesday, and his poor three-point taking pictures on the night time, is the inevitable rust of a layoff.
But Thompson has began to largely spherical into kind. The younger gamers on this staff, particularly Jordan Poole, look poised to be an actual assist this half of the season. And the bizzaro 3-16 highway document the Warriors maintain is what it’s, but it surely’s a wierd anomaly. Don’t be misled by it.
Curry is again. Which means the Warriors are again, too.
Let’s strive to not write them off too quickly as soon as once more.
