It’s still early in the season, but the Warriors have already made NBA history.
For the week of Monday, Nov. 13 – Sunday, Nov. 19
The Warriors are only 13 games into the 2017-18 regular season, and yet, they’ve
already accomplished something that no other team has done in almost 30 years.
With three more wins over the Heat, Timberwolves and 76ers last week, Golden
State has now won its last six games, each decided by a margin of 17 points or
more. That ties the NBA record for most consecutive games won by at least 17
points, set by the Phoenix Suns in January of 1990.
We’ve seen the Warriors beat teams with their enviable collection of offensive
weapons. We’ve seen the Dubs stifle opponents with their relentless, suffocating
defense. But right now, Golden State is putting forth the best of both worlds.
Let’s start with the offensive side. The Warriors scored an average of 119.0
points per game in their three victories last week, which is actually just
slightly below their season average of 120.3 points per contest. However, if you
expand the scope to include the entirety of the six-game winning streak, the
Warriors are averaging 122.8 points per game and 117.6 points per 100
possessions over that span. Both of those numbers are considerably superior to
their league-leading averages from a season ago.
For whatever reason, the Dubs have been particularly dominant in the third
quarter, and that’s not exactly a new thing, either. After averaging a
league-best 31.2 points in the third frame last season, Golden State has stepped
it up another notch and is now averaging 32.6 points in the third quarter so far
this season, 2.8 more points than any other team in the Association. During the
current winning streak, the Dubs have outscored their opponents by an average of
12.5 points in the third quarter, and they’ve been especially lethal over the
last two games, putting up a combined total of 80 points in the third frame.
Due partly to their third quarter offensive explosions, the Warriors took leads
of 18, 19 and 16 points into the fourth quarter in each of their victories last
week. For the three games before that, Golden State held leads of 27, six and 21
points entering the final frame. All that breaks down to an average of a
17.8-point advantage at the end of the third quarter during the current winning
streak, and clearly, the Warriors have been able to maintain or even increase
that lead in the fourth quarters that have followed. And since they’ve held such
large leads going into the fourth, Steve Kerr has had the luxury of resting his
starters and allowing his reserves to finish off the resounding victories. For
instance, Stephen Curry led all NBA players in plus-minus last week (plus-70),
despite playing in only one fourth quarter. Over the course of the current
six-game winning streak, Curry has played a grand total of seven fourth quarter
minutes, and attempted just two field goal attempts in that time.
On the opposite side of the court, Golden State’s defensive performance has been
just as impressive as of late. The Warriors limited their opponents to 98.3
points per game last week, and have had the NBA’s best defense over the course
of the current winning streak, holding their opponents to 94.9 points per 100
possessions. After starting off the season with a couple defensive duds, this
recent defensive resurgence has brought Golden State all the way up to ninth in
the NBA in defensive rating (102.1) on the season as a whole.
On a team as star-studded as the Warriors, there’s inevitably going to be a time
crunch for minutes. Heck, a reserve might go multiple games in a row without
being active. What’s important, though, is taking advantage of the
opportunities, whenever they are presented. This past week and throughout the
early part of this season, Kevon Looney has done exactly that.
Quick trivia: Who is the youngest player on Golden State?
Hint: He wasn’t taken in either of the last two NBA Drafts, and he’s not on a
two-way contract.
That’s right, at still 21 years of age in his third NBA season, Kevon Looney is
the youngest player on the Warriors’ roster (He’ll turn 22 this coming
February). It’s been easy to lose sight of that reality due to the fact that for
the vast majority of Looney’s first two years in the NBA, he was hurt and unable
to make much of an impact. However, the youngest Warrior dropped 20 pounds over
the offseason and came into training camp in the best shape of his career. The
dividends have been immediate, as Looney is consistently showing flashes of the
talent that compelled many pundits to list him as a potential lottery pick
before arriving in Golden State.
His numbers won’t jump off the page – Looney averaged 3.0 points, 2.0 rebounds
and 2.0 blocks in 14.5 minutes per game last week – but nonetheless, he often
made an impact whenever he was on the court. And given what he’s had to go
through to get to this point, including multiple hip surgeries, his team
couldn’t be any happier for him.
“He hasn’t surprised me with his play because we knew he knew how to play and
that he could play,” said Steve Kerr of Looney following Golden State’s victory
over the 76ers on Saturday. “What has surprised me is the fact that he came in
20 pounds lighter and healthier. This is the first time he’s been healthy and
that was the biggest question mark with Loon. I’m just so happy for him because
he’s earned this. He’s worked so hard and is such a good guy and a good young
player. He’s been really good for us.”
The stats back up Kerr’s assertion. Golden State has outscored their opponents
by 13.0 points per 100 possessions when Looney has been on the court so far this
season, and he’s got the sixth-best individual defensive rating of anyone on the
team. The combination of his intelligence, length and improved fitness has
permitted him to be a viable interior defender in the modern NBA.
“The way the modern game is played,” Kerr continued, “our big guys have to be
able to switch and get out on the perimeter, get back and protect the paint. He
does all of that. He’s a very instinctive player. He’s not the most athletic
guy, but he’s always in the right spot and a really, really bright player.”
On a team like the Warriors, Looney’s minutes are going to be more limited than
they would be otherwise. But if he continues playing like this, he’s going to
deserve more and more.
The home-road seesaw of the Warriors season continues in the week ahead, as
Golden State will finish off a homestand before heading out on another road
trip. First, the Warriors will attempt to go 4-0 on their current homestand when
they host the Orlando Magic on Monday on Stephen Curry Bobblehead Night. Then
Golden State will head out on an East Coast road trip, the first three games of
which will be played in a span of four days. The road trip commences on Thursday
in Boston against the East-leading Celtics, in what could be the most
anticipated game from a league perspective of the season thus far. Following
that, the Dubs will close out the week with a road back-to-back over the
weekend, as the Warriors will face the 76ers in Philadelphia on Saturday before
taking on the Nets in Brooklyn on Sunday. Those four opponents are currently a
combined 10 games over .500, meaning Golden State’s current hot streak will
likely be put to the test, particularly considering the road slate.
Till next week.
Media Content: http://www.nba.com/warriors/weekly-dish/20171113
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