No secret:
Players are finally talking about pursuit of 15-0.
They were definitely already thinking about it during their alone time.
There were even whispers between players during quiet times.
But interim head coach Luke Walton on Friday night finally gave the Warriors the full go-ahead to talk about chasing the best start in league history and the mandate “to go get” the record.
“We talked about it,” Walton said. “We hadn’t talked about it at all yet, but we’re close enough now. Let’s try to go get that best start ever.”
The league’s best-ever start of 15-0 was set by the Washington Capitols in 1948 and matched by the Houston Rockets in 1993.
Red Auerbach’s Capitols went on to lose in the championship series to the Minneapolis Lakers, but Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets beat the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
“It’s a goal that’s right here and now,” Stephen Curry said. “It’s something that we want to experience. … It’d be a huge accomplishment, because obviously doing something that’s never been done in the history of the league is special.
“You never know if this opportunity will come again. There are so many variables that go into winning this many games in a row, especially to start a season. We want to accomplish that, since we’re here. … We want to chase history.”
Curry said most of his teammates were aware of the 15-0 record, but it didn’t seem like a realistic goal until this week, when the Warriors beat Toronto, the Clippers and Chicago in a four-day span to move to 14-0.
The Warriors could tie the record Sunday at Denver (6-7) and break the mark at home Tuesday against the Lakers (2-10).
“It’s amazing,” Festus Ezeli said. “That’s history right there. It would be a huge accomplishment for us.
“In the grand scheme of things, our ultimate goal is to win a championship. That’s what we’re chasing right now. … But to have your name in the history book is bigger than any of us in here.”
Dating to the 2014-15 season, the Warriors have won a franchise-record 18 straight regular-season games. From Nov. 13, 2014 to Dec. 14, 2014, the Warriors won 16 straight.
So, while they’re no stranger to streaks, Walton has warned his players against the possibility of a letdown.
“It’s the NBA. Anyone can beat anybody on a given night,” said Walton, who reminded his players that a then-1-8 Brooklyn squad took the Warriors to overtime Nov. 14. “Our guys know that we have to show up and play, if we want to win. Nothing is easy in this league, and nothing is given to you.
“The crowd in Denver — just like everywhere we go — is going to be loud and excited that the world champions are in town and that they could be the team to stop our streak.”