Warriors back on track
For a while, it looked like the Golden State Warriors were heading nowhere near playoff contention in the NBA this season. They lost their first game then won five in a row but stumbled into hard times, once dropping six straight in an alarming tailspin. Closing out tight outings became a challenge as in one-point deciders, the Dubs bowed out in four while winning just twice. In five OTs, Golden State lost four.
Before the trade deadline last Thursday, there was talk of movement within the ranks. Klay Thompson was rumored to be on the block. But when the deadline passed, all coach Steve Kerr did was to trade veteran guard Cory Joseph for cash and a 2024 second round pick. Kerr made it clear he would stick with his nucleus, come hell or high water. Kerr’s gesture of trust apparently is paying off.
Golden State has now won five consecutive games, seven of the last eight. During that eight-game stretch, the Warriors lost only to Atlanta in OT. They held opponents to an average of 105.4 points in the seven wins, way below their average defensive clip of 117.8 for the season. Kerr has reverted to Golden State’s patented small lineup, leaving minor minutes for 6-9 Kevon Looney, 6-10 Dario Saric and 6-9 Trayce Jackson-Davis to come off the bench. Playing center is 6-6 Green with 6-8 Jonathan Kuminga, 6-7 Andrew Wiggins, 6-6
Thompson and 6-2 Curry the other starters. Reserves include 6-5 rookie Brandin Podziemski, 6-0 Chris Paul and 6-2 Gary Payton, Jr. If small is beautiful, it can also be dangerous, particularly in playing pressure defense.
Kerr’s focus on defense has given the Warriors new life. Their offense is a given. Three-point firepower is a trait as Golden State takes 43 percent of its shots from beyond the arc and converts 14.9 a game. But with what Golden State has displayed lately, opponents are forewarned to prepare for unforgiving defense.
In Golden State’s 129-107 win over Utah last Tuesday (Manila time), Thompson shot a game high 26 points, a marked improvement from his season clip of 16.9. Last campaign, he averaged 21.9 points and shot .412 from triple range. His marksmanship from three has dipped to .373 and a lack of defensive intensity has given more minutes to Podziemski in his place. But with Kerr’s decision to keep the Splash Brothers together, Thompson must not only be relieved but also encouraged to outdo himself.
Since the 2014-15 season or over the last nine campaigns, Golden State has advanced to six Finals, winning four titles. The Warriors missed the playoffs twice during that run and last season, were eliminated by the LA Lakers in the second round. Paul, 38, Curry, 35, Thompson, 33 and Green, 33 aren’t getting any younger and Kerr’s goal is to win now and leave the future for the youth brigade to conquer.