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Showing posts from 2015

The Oklahoma City Thunder: Legitimate Title Contenders?

Since their bitter defeat in Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the most highly scrutinized franchises in the NBA. The organization has undergone many changes over the course of the past few years, both in on-the-court personnel, as well as at the helm. After failing to agree on a contract extension in the 2012 off-season, James Harden, NBA Sixth Man of the Year, was shipped to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a plethora of young talent. While the trade quickly thrust Harden firmly into the spotlight, and he has since become a foundational piece in the southeast region of Texas, it left the Oklahoma City franchise with many unanswered questions. Following second and third-round exits in the 2013 and 2014 postseasons respectively, the Thunder missed the playoffs entirely in 2015 for the first time in six seasons. As injuries and frustrations continued to mount, it was 2009-2010 Head Coach of the Year, Scott Brooks...

The National Basketball Association - December 22

As the calendar year of 2015 draws nearer to its conclusion, it seems only fitting for one to begin constructing analysis based upon the status of the 2015-2016 NBA Regular Season thus far. U nsurprisingly, the Golden State Warriors are once again leading the way for the National Basketball Association, breaking seemingly insurmountable records in pursuit of repeating as World Champions. The Warriors currently hold a win-loss record of 26-1, and are on pace to finish the season with roughly 78 victories.  Their remarkable journey will continue tomorrow evening as they host the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs (24-5) continue to flash their athletic prowess.  Led by legends such as Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, and featuring high-end youngsters like Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs pose an enormous threat to the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. These two Western Conference powerhouses will first collide on January 25th at Oracle Arena. In t...

The Bay's Team Returns . . .

It's official: the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors are back... and better than ever. Kicking off the 2015-2016 regular season with five consecutive victories against playoff-caliber opponents, Golden State seems prime to prove that last season's historic title run was no fluke. Led by reigning MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors opened their new season with FOUR straight double-digit wins, including two smackdowns of Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans, and an inconceivable 50-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. And last evening's thrilling contest against the Los Angeles Clippers saw a resilient Warriors' squad emerge victoriously once more. Already plagued by the ongoing health concerns of center Andrew Bogut and head coach Steve Kerr, Golden State refuses to make any excuses. Rather, Luke Walton leads his team into battle each night with a successful game plan, and regardless of circumstance, the Warriors always seem to pull out "...

The Warriors Welcome Jason Thompson

In completing their desired roster for the 2015-2016 regular season, the Golden State Warriors were forced to make one final personnel swap. On July 31, the Warriors traded SF Gerald Wallace, cash, and draft considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for PF Jason Thompson. This was an outstanding move for Golden State, as they have essentially traded David Lee in an effort to land Jason Thompson (a younger, cheaper, and arguably more talented player). And while Thompson spent 7 seasons donning a purple jersey in Sacramento, his adjustment to "The Bay's Team" should be rather seamless. "A lot of instability with seven coaches in seven years, 180 teammates and things like that. That doesn't ever lead to winning," Thompson said. "To come to an organization that has [won] and is coming off a championship, that's great for myself." Although Thompson grew up in Philadelphia, being traded from a team that won 18 games last se...

Golden State Warriors: The 2015 Off-Season

Oftentimes, when a professional sports franchise finally captures a championship, their ensuing off-season features a great amount of free agent shuffling. However, this is certainly not the case for the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, as they plan on entering the 2015-2016 regular season with a roster that is nearly identical to the one that lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy this past June (aside from a short list of unavoidable exceptions). The few notable roster changes include names such as Kevon Looney, Justin Holiday, Gerald Wallace, and David Lee. As addressed in a previous blog, with the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Warriors selected PF Kevon Looney, who will seemingly be a quite valuable asset to their franchise moving forward. In a deal featuring slightly less media coverage, SG Justin Holiday has signed a 2-year contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Although Golden State will miss Holiday greatly, it was clearly time for him to pursue an expa...

The 2015 NBA Draft: Kevon Looney -- A New Home For David Lee?

With the 2015 NBA Championship clinched, the Golden State Warriors were forced to quickly alter their focus onto the 2015 NBA Draft, where they held the 30th overall pick. And although there was serious speculation that the Warriors would attempt to move the pick in an effort to trade David Lee, no significant moves were made. Instead, with the 30th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected PF Kevon Looney, from the UCLA Bruins. While this pick was definitely scrutinized by many experts, the Warriors seem to believe that they have acquired a player of immense skill - a player that will go down in NBA history as an unbelievable "steal". The 6'9, 220 pound forward averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in his freshman season at UCLA, finishing with 15 double-doubles before declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft. And while his injuries may keep him sidelined for an extensive portion of his rookie season in the NBA, he should prove himself as...

Reactions to the 2014-2015 NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP Announcement

After 40 stressful years of failure and disappointment, the Golden State Warriors have renewed their status as NBA Champions. And while this should be a perfect opportunity for Golden State to celebrate, head coach Steve Kerr is taking this time to exhale and process what his team has finally accomplished. "I can't tell you how many things are going through my mind because we've spent so much of our time competing," Kerr said. "But the one thing I'd forgotten was the grind. It has been 12 years since I'd last been here with San Antonio, and it's a long, grueling two months." While Kerr takes a breather in an effort to allow his team to savor the victory, however, the unselfish leaders of the 2014-2015 NBA Champions continue throwing compliments at one specific individual, NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala. "I always said Andre's a pro's pro," said Warriors forward Draymond Green. "He's a professional guy and it sho...

The 2014-2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1975, THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARE NBA CHAMPIONS. It has been nearly seventeen hours since Stephen Curry heaved the ball into the air as the Warriors celebrated their first NBA Championship in 40 seasons. And with this title under their belts, it is beginning to set in for Golden State fans how truly special their championship-caliber roster was this season. A roster that swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the Quarterfinals, rallied from a seemingly insurmountable 2-1 series deficit to dispatch of the Memphis Grizzlies in six Semifinal games, and demolished the Houston Rockets in an almost embarrassing five-game Conference Finals series victory... However, all of the aforementioned victories were merely small steps leading up to Golden State's dethroning of King James in the NBA Finals to assume their position as the new-found NBA Champions. Additionally, all of these victories came without the Warriors being forced to utilize their inco...

Clinching The NBA Crown (June 16th)

Tonight's Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals promises to be a showdown for the ages. Sitting in front of the Golden State Warriors, a golden opportunity to finally win an NBA Title, which is something that has eluded them for many decades. Standing in the way of their glorious pursuit, the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that has never been so close to permanently etching their names into the NBA record books. And although their squad seems to be at a great disadvantage, LeBron James (A.K.A the most dominant NBA player of this generation) will certainly not go down without a fight. However, if the Warriors are to finish off the 2014-2015 NBA season on this evening, they will be fulfilling the long-time dreams of more than their current roster. Rather, a victory tonight will undoubtedly please a wide variety of legendary players who came before them. Among a long list of names of Warriors' greats are players such as Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway,...

Defending The Crown - Opening Day Insight (April 6th Repost)

In an effort to centralize my reading core, I have decided to begin posting all of my blogs at "http://www.silvachristopher.blogspot.com/". This is an article which I wrote on Opening Day of the 2015 MLB Regular Season. Thank you for supporting my work. As the first pitch of the 2015 season approaches for San Francisco, many MLB analysts across the nation have already discounted the defending World Series Champion Giants, claiming that they are not deep enough, their luck has run out, or they can only win "in even years". Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is: with the difficulties that San Francisco has overcome, as well as the ability that they possess to somehow maintain their composure in the most intense of scenarios, this Giants franchise is going to continue to be a threat each and every season for many years to come. Though some may question many of the decisions made by San Francisco's management, the fact that they have guided thei...

The 2015 NBA Finals - Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

After many months of hard-fought battles against a wide variety of respected NBA franchises, the Golden State Warriors find themselves in serious contention for an NBA Title for the first time since 1975. With 67 regular season and 12 postseason victories already in the record books, the Warriors still need 4 more to be able to call themselves NBA Champions. Standing in the way of their first NBA crown in 40 years? LeBron James and the Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The teams split their regular season series 1-1, each claiming a victory in front of their home crowd. It is important to mention that LeBron James was inactive during the Warriors' victory at Oracle Arena. However, the numbers would suggest that Golden State once again has the advantage in this match-up. Cleveland went 53-29 during the regular season, while Golden State finished with an astounding record of 67-15. Nevertheless, at this point in the competition, the regular season vict...

Warriors Win - Western Conference Finals Recap

For the first time since 1975, the Golden State Warriors are going to the NBA Finals. After seven months of battling through excruciating games, practices, and all other unpredictable challenges that come with playing in the NBA, the Bay Area's pride and joy is merely four victories away from the pinnacle of basketball. The Houston Rockets, on the other hand, walk away feeling dejected. Following one of the most frustrating games of his career, MVP runner-up James Harden insisted, "Just trying to play in a crowd, trying to do a little bit too much, and I turned the basketball over and gave them easy opportunities in transition." Golden State, however, will not complain about the continued ineffectiveness of James Harden.  Rather, they will move forward in celebration of obtaining their first Western Conference Championship in 14,612 days.  "Winning feels like relief most of the time," said Golden State's head coach, Steve Kerr.  "But to g...

(1) Warriors vs. (2) Rockets - Western Conference Finals Preview

After rallying from an uncomfortable 2-1 series deficit to dispatch of the Memphis Grizzlies in 6 games, the Golden State Warriors fixed their eyes on Game 7 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon. Much to the dismay of NBA fans across America, the Houston Rockets finished off their monumental comeback, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in an intense and emotional Game 7 battle. And while Houston's victory has not set up the "heated rivalry" that many basketball fans had anticipated, a series featuring two MVP-caliber players (Stephen Curry and James Harden) should prove quite intriguing. Momentum will not likely be much of a factor in this series, as both Houston and Golden State have won three consecutive contests. However, as the Warriors have home court advantage throughout the playoffs, Oracle Arena will undoubtedly be ready for the start of Game 1. Recent history also seems to be on Golden State's side, as the Warrio...

Warriors Win - Western Conference Semifinals Recap

For the first time since 1976, the Golden State Warriors are going to the Western Conference Finals. Simply, there is no better way to describe such a distinct accomplishment, nor to explain the historic run that Golden State has been on since the beginning of the 2014-2015 regular season. Perhaps, however, a similar notion could be obtained by casually looping the replay of Stephen Curry's 62-foot buzzer-beating floater swishing through the bottom of the net last evening. Those are the type of plays that we have come to expect from the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Unfortunately, this series wasn't all "fun and games" for the Warriors, as they were forced to overcome a great deal of adversity in achieving their ultimate goal. Thankfully, the series began on a positive note, which was certainly instrumental in Golden State's success. The hype preceding Game One was quickly dimmed when Memphis announced that Mike Conley would not suit up for the Gr...

(1) Warriors vs. (5) Grizzlies - Western Conference Semifinals Preview

After closing out the New Orleans Pelicans in a first-round sweep, the Golden State Warriors received a week to rest and prepare for their second-round match-up. Now that their "week off" is coming to a close, however, they are back to business and ready to take on their next challenge - the Memphis Grizzlies. While this series will not likely be more mentally taxing than their series against New Orleans, it will certainly not bring an easy victory to Golden State. Led by the All-Star caliber scoring tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the paint, the Grizzlies will definitely give Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut a huge challenge on the inside. Andrew Bogut recognized the difficulties that the Grizzlies' low-post players are going to create, stating, "You know that whoever comes out of this series is probably going to be battered and bruised for the next one".  In the end, however, the "center" position will likely be the only advantage...

Warriors Sweep - Western Conference Quarterfinals Recap

As thousands of New Orleans fans filed out of Smoothie King Center on Saturday evening in disappointment, Golden State faithful across the nation celebrated their first seven-game series sweep since the 1975 NBA Finals. For the inexperienced Pelicans, it was their first taste of the NBA Playoffs. And although it certainly did not go as planned, the young core of Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Anthony Davis only have room to improve. For the Warriors, it was yet another chapter of an unbelievable run that seemingly began as soon as Steve Kerr became the organization's head coach. Yet after their remarkable comeback in Game 3 (a game in which they erased a 20-point fourth quarter deficit), last night's victory certainly should not have come as a surprise. Led by MVP front-runner Stephen Curry, the Warriors prevailed in four highly entertaining contests during this series, and his teammates were quick to give him overwhelming praise. "He's an unbelievable play...

(1) Warriors vs. (8) Pelicans - Western Conference Quarterfinals Preview

Following the conclusion of their most dominant season in franchise history, the Golden State Warriors (67-15) will embark on a potential two-month postseason journey tomorrow afternoon, seeking to permanently etch their name into the NBA record books. For the Warriors, the 2014-2015 regular season has brought much joy, and very little sorrow. Amidst Klay Thompson's record-setting 37-point quarter, Stephen Curry's record-setting 286 three-point field goal season, and Steve Kerr's record-setting 67 victories in his first season as an NBA head coach, it is difficult to understand or appreciate the phenomenal regular season that has recently concluded. Statistics, however, suggest that this season's Warriors' team may be one of the greatest ten teams in NBA history. Indeed, with their victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday evening, Golden State became only the tenth team in NBA history to win 67 games in a single season. And after the game, Warriors...

Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks 04/04/2015

Following a highly emotional victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors flew to northeastern Texas to begin preparation for their match-up with the Dallas Mavericks. Riding an 11-game winning streak, the Warriors would enter American Airlines Center on Saturday evening seeking the highly coveted "series sweep" against the Mavericks. And when the final buzzer FINALLY sounded, that was precisely what they had achieved. Powered by double-digit performances from seven players, the Warriors battled from start to finish, finding the majority of their success in the second quarter, a frame in which they outscored the Mavericks 33-24. Klay Thompson was Golden State's largest contributor on the offensive end, collecting a game-high 21 points in the Warriors' 123-110 victory. Harrison Barnes was also stellar for Golden State, connecting for 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and achieving a rare "double-double". With tonight...

Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns 04/02/2015

With their magic number to clinch the best overall record in the NBA trimmed to three, the Golden State Warriors entered Oracle Arena on Thursday night with very little motivation. Simply, a victory in this evening's contest would only be relevant to maniacal statisticians (such as myself), or perhaps to bitter Phoenix fans who have remained disgusted by the recurring mediocre play of their team since 1968. Golden State's lack of urgency, however, was quite evident, as they flirted with the possibility of losing at home for only the third time this season. As the night unfolded, Steve Kerr's game plan seemed to focus primarily on managing the minutes of his star athletes, rather than winning, as players such as James Michael McAdoo (22 minutes) received unusually significant playing time. Lacking continuity, the Warriors frolicked throughout the majority of the game, always believing that their last-minute heroics would be more than enough to power them to their 62...

Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers 03/31/2015

With the #1 seed in the Western Conference already locked up, the Golden State Warriors entered the Staples Center on Tuesday evening with merely three things to play for: pride, consistency, and the best overall record in the NBA. Lacking Draymond Green once again (shin inflammation), the Warrior reserves would need to generate a tremendous amount of energy if their team planned on leaving Los Angeles victoriously on this night. And while Golden State lacked energy and rhythm early in the contest, their intensity throughout the final three quarters of the game was commendable. By rallying from a 17-point deficit, the Warriors certainly made their presence known, particularly in the third frame, when they finally took their first lead of the night. And eventually, this overpowering Golden State squad was too much for Los Angeles to handle, as the Warriors executed magnificently down the stretch to overcome the Clippers 110-106. As always, the Splash Brothers were key contrib...

Stephen Curry - The 2014-2015 Most Valuable NBA Player

With 18 days remaining until the 2015 NBA Playoffs are officially underway, the MVP discussion around the NBA has become more prevalent than ever. While many would argue that an All-Star performer such as James Harden, LeBron James, or Russell Westbrook should take home this prestigious award, it is quite evident that the true "Most Valuable NBA Player" resides in the Golden State. As the end of the regular season draws near, the Golden State Warriors are sitting atop the NBA standings, with an unbelievable record of 60-13. And while it is true that Golden State has created one of the deepest overall teams in the league, many of their franchise-record 60 victories this season have come as a direct result of the heroics of their point guard. According to the dictionary, the word "valuable" means: 1) having considerable monetary worth, 2) having qualities worthy of respect, admiration, or esteem, and 3) of considerable use, service, or importance. Stephen C...

Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks 03/28/2015

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY, THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS HAVE WON 60 GAMES. After dispatching of the Memphis Grizzlies last evening, Golden State flew to Milwaukee, beginning their preparation to accomplish an unprecedented feat in franchise history - 60 victories in a single season. However, the Bucks were fiercely determined to prevent the Warriors from making history on this night, scrapping to maintain their position as the sixth best team in the Eastern Conference. As the first quarter came to a close, the contest looked to remain unpredictably even, as the Warriors emerged with a slim one-point lead. Nevertheless, their "slim lead" would expand rapidly during the ensuing quarters, as the game quickly became the blowout that Golden State fans had anticipated. Once again, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were notable forces for the Warriors, combining for 46 points in a dominant victory. And by the end of the night, it certainly was time to celebra...

Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies 03/27/2015

Three days after collecting their first division title in nearly four decades, the Golden State Warriors arrived at the FedEx Forum on Friday evening, seeking to down a potential Western Conference Finals opponent. Although the Warriors had dropped 12 of their last 14 games against the Grizzlies, they entered the night with impenetrable focus, poised to reverse that downward trend. Tonight's contest would certainly be anything besides dull, as NBA fans from coast to coast hyped up one undeniable statistic: the Memphis Grizzlies are the ONLY team in the NBA that the Warriors have not beaten. After 48 minutes of play, however, that statement would become irreparably inaccurate. Led by MVP-caliber point guard Stephen Curry (38 points and 10 assists), Golden State took Memphis by storm this evening, derailing them 107-84 in a game which definitely lacked second-half intensity. Klay Thompson was also masterful, dropping in 28 points of his own en route to the Warriors' 59...

Golden State Warriors @ Portland Trailblazers 03/24/2015

After a route of the Washington Wizards last evening, the Golden State Warriors entered tonight's contest against the Portland Trailblazers in pursuit of their first division crown in 39 years. And by winning their slated match-up by the score of 122-108, Golden State has achieved that very feat - a feat that seemed hopelessly unobtainable after the firing of head coach Mark Jackson this past summer. While many were quick to criticize the decision made by Warriors' ownership, hiring Steve Kerr has already paid dividends, and will likely continue to do so for many years to come. Tonight's game simply marked another chapter in the brilliant storybook of one of the greatest rookie head coaches in NBA history. Predictably, this evening's outcome was never in question, as Golden State was determined to clinch the Pacific as soon as humanly possible. And although they struggled mightily in the first half, the Warriors exploded in the third quarter, stacking up impr...

Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards 03/23/2015

Following a significantly large victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, the Golden State Warriors would have to overcome a major obstacle to complete their perfect home stand on this evening. Rolling into town looking to avenge two consecutive losses were the always dangerous Washington Wizards (40-30). Thankfully for Golden State, Klay Thompson had finally resumed basketball activities, and was slated to start and play 25 minutes for the Warriors tonight. Thus, the honoring of the 1975 Warriors NBA Title would likely turn into a victory celebration, capping yet another perfect home stand for a dynamic Golden State roster. Nevertheless, the daunting duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal have generally proven themselves as a highly dangerous opposition, and the Warriors were certainly aware that they would have to proceed with caution. On this night, however, Washington was doomed from the beginning, as historical greatness was bound to motivate Golden State beyond any sort...

Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz 03/21/2015

A taco salesman once proclaimed, "He makes it rain so much, they're asking him to end the California drought."  Indeed, the above quote was provided for comic relief in the chain of commercials which the Warriors have released on CSN Bay Area this season. Nevertheless, over the past few years, Golden State's prodigal son has altered this "joke" into an indisputable reality.  The 27-year-old Davidson product, more fondly known as the "Human Torch" or "Baby-Faced Assassin", has been a substantial force for his exuberant Warriors' squad since the beginning of the 2012-2013 season. And while Stephen Curry's shooting percentage had certainly stagnated over the past five games (25-for-72, which converts to a dismal 34.7%), he finally re-emerged tonight as the dominant finisher that Golden State has grown accustomed to. Courtesy of Klay Thompson's continued absence, Curry was left with no choice but to shine, if the Warrio...

Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans 03/20/2015

Less than 48 hours after defeating the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Golden State Warriors entered Oracle Arena on Friday night ready to square off against a potential first-round playoff opponent - the New Orleans Pelicans. While New Orleans would undoubtedly be prepared for Golden State's lethal attack, the Warriors were set to flex their muscles once again, seeking to push their dominant winning streak against the Pelicans to 10. Unfortunately for New Orleans, they were in jeopardy of being blown out once again, as they lacked the presence of four of their largest contributors (Jrue Holiday, Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis). However, with Klay Thompson once again sitting, the early portion of the game was not going extraordinarily well for Golden State. Stephen Curry was abysmal throughout the majority of the night - his stat line would show 1-of-13 shooting from the field by the midway point of the third frame. Nevertheless, this evening was ab...

Golden State Warriors vs. Atlanta Hawks 03/18/2015

While the majority of basketball fans in the United States settled in to watch Dayton and Boise State do battle in the "First Four" of the NCAA Tournament, the most highly anticipated game of the season was tipping off in the Golden State. The evening's contest would feature two of the very best teams in the NBA: the Atlanta Hawks (53-14) and the Golden State Warriors (53-13). And after suffering a painful loss against the Hawks earlier in the season on Georgia soil, the Warriors were ready to send a message tonight - a message declaring that they are the true powerhouse team in the NBA. Make no mistake, Atlanta is an outstanding team in their own right. Golden State, however, was simply unstoppable on this night. Lacking the second member of their "Splash Brother" tandem, the Warriors would need a significant amount of scoring from their role players tonight in order to emerge as the victor. Thankfully, on this particular evening, Golden State foun...

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers 03/16/2015

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO BRING YOU THIS IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETIN: FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON, THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARE POSTSEASON BOUND. And there you have it. The Warriors are OFFICIALLY going to the 2015 NBA Playoffs. After all, tonight's contest promised to be one of the most intriguing of the season for Golden State, simply because they had the opportunity to clinch a postseason birth against one of their oldest and most bitter rivals. Regardless of the Warriors' excitement, however, the Los Angeles Lakers were not willing to go down without a fight. Instead, they remained remarkably even with Golden State throughout the first quarter of play, and would stay in a similar position throughout the entirety of the contest. Undoubtedly, a large portion of their success was a direct result of their ability to control the Warriors' immensely talented backcourt. In particular, Stephen Curry was having a sub-par evening, as Golden State scratched an...

Warriors Host The Lakers - Preview and Predictions

With the recent announcement of the "March Madness" tournament games, much of the focus in the United States has momentarily shifted from the NBA in favor of the NCAA Tournament. Millions of Americans from coast to coast are frantically filling in their brackets and seeking last-minute advice from experts on match-ups which seem nearly impossible to predict. In Northern California, however, the spotlight remains on the hottest and most dominant team in the NBA: the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors (52-13) enter this evening's contest following a dominant victory over the New York Knicks, which saw the "Splash Brothers" strike for over 50 points. Conversely, the Los Angeles Lakers (17-48) enter the night following back-to-back devastating losses, and it is quite unlikely that tonight's game will hold a more favorable result for the men wearing purple and gold. Currently, the line (i.e. margin of victory) is Golden State by 18, and barring an abs...

Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks 03/14/2015

In their first meeting of the season at Madison Square Garden on February 7th, the Golden State Warriors dispatched of the New York Knicks 106-92. This evening's rematch would feature the best team in the NBA (the 51-13 Warriors) against the worst team in the NBA (the 13-51 Knicks). And with their full squad available in tonight's contest at Oracle Arena, Golden State's victory would not be nearly as difficult to obtain. After a shaky opening period, the Warriors' offense exploded at a record-setting pace, draining 47 points on 78 percent shooting in the second frame. The third brought much of the same, and by the fourth quarter, the Warriors' starters had become spectators. Stephen Curry was a key contributor in Golden State's dominant win, dropping 25 points and dishing out 11 assists on his 27th birthday. Klay Thompson was also magnificent, connecting for a game-high 27 points in an outstanding shooting performance. While the final quarter went...

Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets 03/13/2015

With their status as one of the best overall teams in the NBA firmly cemented, the Golden State Warriors (51-12) entered the Pepsi Center on Friday night for their sole road venture of the season against the Denver Nuggets (24-41). Although the Nuggets' season had been fairly miserable thus far, their fortunes had turned around as of late, as they had emerged as the victor in four of their previous six contests. Nevertheless, Warriors' coach Steve Kerr was not incredibly concerned, as he and his coaching staff made the bold decision to rest four of their most vital pieces: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Andrew Bogut. Golden State would definitely have their hands full on this night. With Marreese Speights serving a one-game suspension for reckless driving, the Warriors would have only nine available players in tonight's game: Shaun Livingston, Justin Holiday, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, David Lee, Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli, James Michael...

Golden State Warriors vs. Detroit Pistons 03/11/2015

Entering Wednesday night's contest against the Detroit Pistons, the Golden State Warriors remained as confident as ever. Following their victory in Phoenix on Monday evening, they had pushed their incredible overall record to 50-12. And with the Detroit Pistons in town (losers of seven consecutive games), Golden State's outstanding winning percentage looked prime to increase. The victory, however, would not come without tremendous adversity. Stephen Curry struggled immensely with his shot tonight, converting on only four of his many field goal attempts, and finishing with merely 9 points. Nevertheless, his "splash" partner Klay Thompson was omnipresent this evening - always there to pick up his slack. Recently out of an extended scoring slump, Thompson dropped in a game-high 27 points to power the Warriors to a 105-98 victory. Tonight's win certainly cemented the importance of the Oracle Arena crowd as well, as they pushed Golden State to an untouch...

Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns 03/09/2015

Following a colossally huge victory against the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday afternoon, the Golden State Warriors flew south for a quick one-game road trip. In tonight's contest, the Warriors would seek to turn the tables in the desert against a strong divisional foe - the Phoenix Suns.  Entering the game, however, history was definitely not on Golden State's side, as the Warriors held a miserable record of 10-72 in games on Arizona soil since 1980. Nevertheless, on this particular night, Golden State refused to be deterred. After a rocky first half, the Warriors flashed their dominance in the second half, steamrolling the Suns in a 98-80 blowout win. This victory marked a quite significant milestone for Golden State: 50 wins. Indeed, for the first time in franchise history, the Warriors have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons. Needless to say, this team will likely collect many more wins before all is said and done, as even on a poor shooting night, Golden Sta...

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers 03/08/2015

After notching yet another impressive home victory on Friday night against Dallas, the Golden State Warriors stepped onto their home court this afternoon for an intense battle with their biggest nemesis - the Los Angeles Clippers. Today's contest would surely feature everything: two high-octane offenses, gritty defenses, and above all, bitter rivals. Golden State would certainly have to play impressive basketball in order to win their sixth straight at Oracle Arena. And, as expected, the Warriors were up to the challenge. Though Golden State's offense stagnated early, they were eventually able to establish a solid game plan that allowed them to cruise to their 49th victory of the season. With Stephen Curry (12 points) largely out of the scoring equation, the Warriors relied heavily on their role players to chip in offensively. Shaun Livingston (21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) was a standout performer off of Golden State's bench today.  Draymond ...

Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks 03/06/2015

48 hours removed from an impressive home victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Golden State Warriors entered Oracle Arena seeking to continue their winning streak against the always tough Dallas Mavericks. Tonight's contest would mark the first meeting between these two teams since Stephen Curry's historic 51-point performance which powered the Warriors to an easy victory against the Mavericks on February 4th. And on an Authentic Fan Friday night at Oracle, Golden State was confident that they would be able to take six straight games from Dallas for the first time since 1997. In the opening frame, Curry took over where he left off in early February, collecting 13 points, 4 assists, and a steal as the Warriors outpaced the Mavericks 29-24. With Curry fading into the background in the second quarter, Golden State steadily pushed their advantage to 12, courtesy of strong performances by Shaun Livingston, Draymond Green and company. Largely because of their ability to...

Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks 03/04/2015

Fresh off of their most grueling road trip of the season, the Golden State Warriors returned to Oracle Arena on Wednesday night in pursuit of a victory against the scuffling Milwaukee Bucks. After battling through the toughest stretches of their schedule, the remainder of Golden State's season would likely prove much more favorable. Although their margin of error on this night would certainly be slim, the Warriors' confidence level was at an all-time high. And it certainly didn't hurt that they entered the contest with a record of 24-2 at home. Led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (the Splash Brothers), as well as Draymond Green's offensive explosion on his birthday, Golden State was money in the first quarter. The Warriors were seeking to embarrass Jason Kidd's Bucks. Slowly, but surely, however, the Milwaukee comeback began, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and company simply refused to fall quietly. The intense Milwaukee second quarter rally culminated when Mi...

Golden State Warriors @ Brooklyn Nets 03/02/2015

Shortly after completing the largest comeback in the NBA this season, the Golden State Warriors boarded their team plane, expecting a quick flight to Brooklyn. Instead of a celebratory flight, however, the Warriors were rewarded with a massive, five-hour delay. The team did not arrive in Brooklyn until 4 A.M. In tonight's contest, therefore, the challenge would be battling through tremendous fatigue to overcome the desperate Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the Nets had other plans. "We've got to make a statement and start building something at home," Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins said. "We haven't been a very good home team. We need to go home and excite the Brooklyn fans." And that they did. After scuffling in the first half, the frantic Warriors struggled to find their rhythm in the third quarter. Curry and Bogut each picked up their fourth foul early in the frame, yet a resilient Golden State team continued battling, trim...

Golden State Warriors @ Boston Celtics 03/01/2015

Coming off of a dominant performance in Toronto, the Golden State Warriors were seeking to find their consistency tonight in Boston. Many critics of the team throughout the season have questioned their legitimacy because of their inability to shake mediocre opponents. Tonight, the Warriors would look to silence those doubters. The game did not start as Golden State had intended. The Warriors were being punished on both ends of the court, as the Celtics (23-33) pushed their lead to a seemingly insurmountable margin. Midway through the second quarter, Boston was leading Golden State by 26 points. In order to win this game, the Warriors were going to have to pump out their biggest comeback of the season. And that they did. However, their impressive comeback did not happen all at once. It started out gradually, as slowly, but surely, Golden State climbed their way back into the contest. As usual, Stephen Curry led the way, dropping in 37 points in 37 minutes of playing time. Oth...

Golden State Warriors @ Toronto Raptors 02/27/2015

Seeking to redeem themselves after a demoralizing loss in Cleveland last evening, the Warriors flew north of the border. Tonight's contest would feature the Golden State Warriors (7-8 in their past 15 road games) against the elite, yet slumping, Toronto Raptors (recipients of three consecutive losses). Undoubtedly, Stephen Curry would be ready to go on February 27th, 2015. Two years ago tonight, Steph lit up Madison Square Garden in New York with a historic 54-point performance, and he has often played his best basketball against Toronto. Prior to tonight, Curry had scored an average of 28.6 points per game against the Raptors. On this night, however, his services would be in lower demand. Golden State was locked in from the beginning, opening the game on a 22-5 run and forming an impenetrable defensive wall. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto (the fifth highest scoring team in the NBA) had converted on only 1 of 19 field goal attempts, as the Warriors maintained a comm...

Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers 02/26/2015

The conditions may have been frigid outside, but the atmosphere inside Quicken Loans Arena tonight was electric. The Golden State Warriors (best record in the NBA) entered the house of the Cavaliers this evening seeking to dethrone King James and his red-hot Cleveland squad. Winning tonight, however, would be a challenge unlike any that Golden State had encountered thus far. The Cavaliers entered the night with a record of 17-2 in their previous 19 games. Their recent success can most likely be attributed to the return of perhaps the greatest player in the NBA right now - their leader, LeBron James. However, Golden State entered the night with a dominant figure of their own, in the form of MVP candidate point guard Stephen Curry. Curry made his presence known immediately this evening, facilitating David Lee on many occasions and draining 12 points in the first quarter. Unfortunately for Golden State, their solid play came unraveled in the second quarter. Altho...