With three impressive victories to open the season, the Warriors issued a statement to the rest of the league that they're no one hit wonder.
For the week of Monday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 8
Record: 3-0
With three consecutive victories to begin the season over Western Conference playoff teams from a year ago, the Warriors wasted no time issuing a statement to the rest of the league that they’re no one hit wonder. The Dubs used a scintillating 24-point first quarter from Stephen Curry to get off on the right foot on Opening Night, and their dominance persisted throughout the opening week of play. Golden State won each of their games by at least 14 points, two of which occurred on a road back-to-back, marking the first time in franchise history the team has posted double-digit victories in each of the season’s first three games. And, if the first three games are any indication, they haven’t exactly gotten away from the secrets to their success from last season. Currently, the Warriors lead the NBA with an average of 27.0 assists per game, while having committed the third-fewest turnovers in the league (12.7 per game). That, as we know by now, is a pretty deadly combination. For reference, the Warriors averaged 27.4 assists and 14.5 turnovers per game on their way to the Championship last season.
The advanced metrics seem to support the claim that these are the same old Warriors, as well. Last season, the Warriors scored the second-most points per 100 possessions (109.7) in the NBA, while allowing the fewest (98.2), good for a historically great net rating of +11.4. Through the first three games of 2015-16, the Warriors are averaging 114.4 points for (best in the NBA) and 96.3 points against, equating to a net rating of +18.1. Yes, it’s a small sample size and those numbers will certainly regress from their current mind-blowing states, but at the very least, they’re a good indication that the Warriors are not only utilizing the same strategy that helped win them a Championship, but also currently applying that strategy with even greater effectiveness. There’s obviously a tremendously long way to go, but considering the team has been without Andrew Bogut for two of the three games, not to mention Steve Kerr’s ongoing absence, the fast start is all the more impressive.
Standout Spotlight: Stephen Curry
Shocker, I know. With 40, 25 and 53 points in succession to begin the season, the reigning MVP isn’t just off to the best start of his career; it’s arguably the most impressive offensive beginning to a season in the last 25 years of the NBA. Consider this: the last player to score 118 points in the first three games of a season was none other than Michael Jordan, who scored a matching 118 points for the Bulls in the first three games of the 1989-90 season. To put that in perspective, Curry wasn’t even two years old when Air Jordan accomplished that feat. The only other players in NBA history to score at least 118 points in the first three games of a season? Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. That’s it. Any time you’re included in a list along with those three all-time greats, you know you’ve done something special. And clearly, the NBA agrees. Earlier today, Curry was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the third time in his career.
Curry averaged 39.3 points (first in the NBA), 7.3 assists (tied for sixth), 5.7 rebounds and 2.33 steals (tied for seventh) in 32.9 minutes, hitting 58.8 percent (40-of-68) from the field, 48.6 percent (17-of-35) from three-point range and 95.5 percent at the line. He joins Tim Hardaway (5), Chris Mullin (4), Baron Davis (4), David Lee (3) and teammate Klay Thompson (3) as the only players in franchise history to earn at least three career weekly awards. Curry’s week was highlighted by Saturday’s 53-point performance (one shy of his career-best) against New Orleans that included a career quarter-high of 28 points in the third frame, the most scored by any player in the NBA in a single quarter since Klay Thompson’s magical 37-point third quarter against the Sacramento Kings last season. With that 53-point effort, Curry joined Chamberlain and Rick Barry as the only players in franchise history with at least three 50-point games. While it’s still far too early to assert MVP candidacies, it’s clear the reigning MVP isn’t ready to relinquish the title just yet.
The Week Ahead:
The Warriors were dealt a tough schedule to open the season, and it doesn’t exactly let up much in the second week. Tonight the Dubs begin a three-game homestand against the Memphis Grizzlies in their fourth consecutive game against a playoff opponent from last season. With a victory, the Warriors would set the record for the longest regular season home winning streak in franchise history at 20 games. And, if Curry can somehow manage to keep his incendiary start going by notching at least 46 points tonight, he’ll pass Jordan for the most points scored through the first four games of a season in the last 50 years. No pressure or anything. After tonight, the Warriors will then host the Clippers and Nuggets on Wednesday and Friday night, respectively, before making the short jaunt to Sacramento for the back end of a back-to-back against the Kings on Saturday. It’s the continuation of a tough opening slate, but each victory the Dubs can accumulate early, the more it will pay off later on.
Till next week.
The Dish has been served.