NBA West: Golden State Proves They Belong
The NBA’s Western Conference is loaded with top teams this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs are all members of the West and have the three best records in the NBA. However, one of the most underrated teams and one that will surprise many during the second half of this season is the Golden State Warriors.
At this time, the Warriors have an overall record of 25-15 after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers Monday night 106-99. In conference play, the Warriors are 12-12, but have won two straight games and are currently in fifth place in the conference standings just a game behind Memphis for fourth.
Golden State is in the top ten in three major statistical categories as they are fourth in the league in rebounds per game averaging 45 per game, eighth in assists per game with 23 and 9th in points per game with nearly 101.
The young Warriors at the halfway point of the season have made a name for themselves as a team that must not be overlooked. With their youth, the Warriors could be a team to be reckoned with for years to come. Stephen Curry is the team’s leading scorer at 20.7 points per game. Curry leads the team in assists with 6.6 per game as well. Leading the team in rebounding is David Lee who is averaging just fewer than 11 per game.
Helping Curry in the backcourt is Klay Thompson who is averaging 16 points per game. Lee is second on the team in scoring with an average of 19.6 per game. Two other players, Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry are also averaging in double figures in scoring. In Monday’s come from behind win versus the Clippers, Curry had 28 points.
Other players that are contributing on the court for the Warriors are Draymond Green, Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Andrew Bogut (when his injury heals) and Brandon Rush. These players have given the Warriors excellent bench production and the skill level does not go down when the starters are resting.
The Warriors have been able to beat teams that have worse records than themselves, but up until Monday’s defeat of the Clippers, were not able to defeat many teams in the playoff picture. Eleven of the Warriors’ 15 losses have come against teams that are currently in the playoff picture.
Nevertheless, the Warriors have had their share of big wins. They defeated the defending NBA champion Miami Heat in their only head-to-head game thus far this season. Golden State has also defeated the Brooklyn Nets twice and the Clippers on three occasions this season.
One facet of their game the Warriors need to work on if they want to contend once the playoffs arrive, is defense. The Warriors are allowing about 99 points per game. Defense becomes much more important during playoff time than during the 82 game regular season.
This season the Warriors have a very good chance to make the playoffs and with one or two players more, could become one of the best teams in the West and the rest of the NBA in the near future.
