The Weekly Dish

Taking a look at where the Warriors stand halfway through the regular season.

For the week of Monday, Jan. 16 – Sunday, Jan. 22

After home victories over the Heat and Pistons last week, the Warriors sit at 34-6 on the 2016-17 campaign, and when the final buzzer sounds at the conclusion of the their matchup with the Cavaliers later today, Golden State will be at the exact midway point of their regular season.

It’s not the same team from a season ago, but in certain ways, they’ve improved over the last year. For instance, they’re averaging 113.3 points per 100 possessions this season, a bump up from the 112.4 they averaged through the first 40 games of 2015-16. Granted, they’re also allowing 3.0 more points against per 100 possessions, but a significant portion of that increase can be attributed to a surge in league-wide scoring and offensive efficiency.

Thus, while they’re a less efficient defensive team than they were last season, they’re actually a better defensive team this season in relation to the rest of the league. This season, the Warriors currently rank second in the league in both offensive and defensive rating; through the first 40 games of last season, they ranked first and fourth, respectively.

If you want impressive statistics, the Warriors have no shortage of them. For instance, Golden State outscored the Heat and Pistons by a combined total of 63-14 in fast break points in their two victories last week, and are now 12-0 on the season when totaling at least 25 fast break points in a game. In that win over Detroit, the Warriors outscored the Pistons 41-19 in the third quarter, notching their ninth 40-point quarter of the season and improving their record to 8-0 in such games (two instances occurred in the same game).

They say 13 is an unlucky number, but that’s not necessarily the case as things currently stand for Golden State. For instance, they’re 13-0 when Draymond Green accumulates at least 10 assists, and 13-0 when Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson all score at least 20 points in the same game. Additionally, the Dubs are a mighty impressive 17-0 when splashing at least 13 three-pointers in a single game.

The gaudy records and statistics are indicative of the high quality of play the Warriors have produced throughout nearly the entire first half of the season, with a few hiccups providing the only exceptions. Given the fact that Golden State entered the season with basically half a roster that wasn’t with the team a year ago, the additional experience they gain playing together in the second half should help them come playoff time.

There are going to be nights when the combination of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson provides more than enough scoring to push Golden State over the top. There are also going to be others when the Dubs require efficient and timely secondary scoring, and Ian Clark has been more than adequate in helping to fill that void so far this season. Clark posted averages of 12.0 points and 2.0 assists in 19.1 minutes per game last week on 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 71.4 percent from three-point land. He scored in double-figures in both victories and has now done so nine times this season, but this was only the second instance in which he did so in consecutive games. Especially with Klay Thompson missing one of the games due to rest, it was and continues to be important for Steve Kerr to have another dependable option in the backcourt, and Clark has taken on that challenge and been one of the most pleasant surprises for Golden State this season. His progression will be something to keep an eye on in the second half, as he continues to solidify his position in the rotation.

You won’t find many tougher weeks in terms of opponents than the one the Warriors have on deck in the week ahead. It begins, of course, with the second and final regular season meeting between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Following that rematch of the one-point game on Christmas Day, the Dubs will round out their homestand against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Golden State will then head out on a four-game road trip, with the first two of those games rounding out their slate this week. The trip begins on Friday in Houston against James Harden and the Rockets, which will pit the two highest-scoring teams in the league against one another. Then, the Warriors will make their one and only trip to Orlando this season for a matchup with the Magic on Sunday morning (9:00 a.m. Pacific), which will represent Golden State’s earliest tip-off in more than 20 years, dating back to March 1995. It’s certainly a tough slate in terms of opponents and adversity, which presents a perfect opportunity for the Warriors to start the second half off on a high note.