Warriors' Quarter-Season Recap and Report Card: Can the Dynasty Survive?
For the Golden State Warriors, the 2010s were nothing short of remarkable.
While the basketball world largely fixated on the Warriors' iconic 73-9 record during the 2015-2016 season (as well as their subsequent NBA Finals' collapse and recruitment of phenom Kevin Durant), the history books will illuminate an unforgettable period of time in which rising superstars joined forces to immortalize their respective legacies.
Subsequently, Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals brought about a season-ending injury for five-time NBA All-Star Klay Thompson, whose torn ACL officially dashed all hope of the Warriors' ability to "three-peat".
As the battered Warriors finished their season with a record of 15-50 (worst in the NBA), the franchise ultimately secured the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft: selecting 19-year-old center James Wiseman from the University of Memphis.
While the franchise quickly affirmed their "win-now" mentality by acquiring Kelly Oubre Jr. from the Phoenix Suns (to pair with Andrew Wiggins as dual wing threats), many experts doubted the Warriors' ability to remain in playoff contention during the 2020-2021 campaign after losing their star shooting guard to yet another devastating injury.
In the second matchup of the NBA's new-look "baseball series", Stephen Curry dropped a career-high 62 points to propel the Warriors to a 137-122 victory over the Blazers. The "Human Torch" shot 18-of-31 (58%) from the field, while sinking 8-of-16 attempts from distance. His unstoppable night was largely fueled by his ability to attack the basket, draw fouls, and convert at the free throw line. Curry attempted a career-high 19 free throws on this night, sinking 18 of them (despite missing in the first quarter to end his franchise-record free throw streak at 80).
Having spent four decades mired in mediocrity, the Bay Area's team finally managed to assemble a dominant lineup en route to securing three championships, qualifying for the NBA Finals in five consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2019.
Unfortunately for Golden State, impermanence remains the harsh reality of professional sports, and the Warriors' reign of terror came to a screeching halt in the summer of 2019.
In Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, two-time defending NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon (ending not only his season, but his tenure donning the blue and yellow).
Almost predictably, the 2019-2020 campaign was equally unkind to Golden State, as two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry broke his left hand in the Warriors' fourth game of the season.
Thus, the Bay Area was dealt three season-ending injuries to a trio of NBA icons in merely six contests.
Unfortunately, Wiseman was welcomed to Golden State in bittersweet fashion, as injuries continued to mount for the Warriors. In a perplexing and cruel twist of fate, Klay Thompson suffered an Achilles tear while competing in a pickup game on draft day -- back-to-back season-ending injuries now promised to sideline one of the "Splash Brothers" for more than two full calendar years.
With 18 of 72 scheduled games now firmly in the rearview, January 27 seems an apropos moment to pause in contemplation of the Warriors' performance through the first quarter of their season.
Games 1 and 2 - 12/22 @ BKN --- 12/25 @ MIL
When the NBA released the first half of its 2020-2021 schedule, Warrior fans across the globe simultaneously checked their calendars to ensure that April 1 had passed long ago. Upon realizing that this was not a clever joke, they collectively groaned and accepted that their team would open the new campaign with a record of 0-2.
All kidding aside, this was brutal on the part of the schedule makers. A new-look team (still trying to remember each other's names, let alone basketball tendencies) immediately thrust into action against the likes of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was never going to end well.
Predictably, the Warriors were thoroughly outmatched in both contests -- falling by 26 points to the Nets and by 39 points to the Bucks. Golden State shot 37% from the field in Brooklyn and 34% from the field in Milwaukee, while surrendering an obscene amount of points (263) on their own end of the floor, largely due to a foot injury keeping defensive stalwart Draymond Green sidelined.
Games 3 and 4 - 12/27 @ CHI --- 12/29 @ DET
Presumably thankful to land in Chicago after suffering a pair of brutal losses, the Warriors were in for a rude awakening in their post-Christmas matchup. With Draymond Green still absent for Golden State, and reserve center Marquese Chriss ruled out for the season after fracturing his fibula in practice, the (similarly) winless Bulls seemed to dictate the flow of play, steadily pushing their advantage to 10 points in the third quarter.
However, the Bay Area's team showed its first flashes of resilience in this contest, with superstar Stephen Curry leading the comeback charge. On the evening of December 27, the Warriors' point guard displayed his vast array of offensive skills, racking up a game-high 36 points, and surpassing a Rick Barry franchise record by sinking his 61st consecutive free throw attempt.
Nonetheless, it was Curry's brother-in-law who emerged as the star of the night, preventing the Warriors from falling to 0-3. With merely 2.3 seconds remaining on the game clock, Damion Lee drained perhaps the biggest three-point shot of his career, and Golden State escaped Chicago with a 129-128 victory.
While their ensuing matchup against the Pistons was not nearly as dramatic, Golden State managed to ride their perennial superstar to another victory, as Curry once again dropped a game-high 31 points in the Warriors' 116-106 win over Detroit. Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 27 points in his own right, and Kelly Oubre Jr. finally sunk his first shot from beyond the arc (after posting a brutal 0-for-17 mark from distance to begin the season).
Thus, the Warriors finished their road trip (and 2020 calendar year) with back-to-back victories, improving their record to 2-2 and returning a sense of optimism to the franchise for the first time since the 2019 NBA Finals. With the return of Draymond Green and the promise of James Wiseman's continued development on the horizon, Golden State sought to return to its winning ways in 2021.
Games 5 and 6 - 1/1 vs. POR --- 1/3 vs. POR
Unfortunately, the Warriors were unable to build upon recent success in their home opener against the Trail Blazers. By the end of the first quarter, Portland had built a 15-point advantage, and Golden State spent the remainder of the evening playing catch-up. On January 1, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 62 points in a dominant 25-point victory that sent the Warriors back to a sub-.500 record. And triggered the wrath of the greatest shooter in NBA history.
Game 7 - 1/4 vs. SAC
After exerting such a great deal of energy in their record-setting victory over Portland, it seemed only natural for the Warriors to suffer a setback on the second night of back-to-backs against a divisional rival. However, Golden State remained poised in their first matchup against a reeling Kings' squad, and yet another offensive onslaught carried them to a 137-106 victory (securing their first winning record of the 2020-2021 campaign).
Despite finishing well short of his staggering 62-point effort, Stephen Curry led the Warrior charge once more, tallying 30 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in only 30 minutes of action. Kelly Oubre Jr. also contributed offensively with 18 points (including 12 from beyond the arc). Meanwhile, Golden State totaled 41 assists, shot 23-of-43 from distance, and received a double-digit scoring effort from five additional players.
Games 8 and 9 - 1/6 vs. LAC --- 1/8 vs. LAC
In their first tilt against a Western Conference title contender, Golden State showed signs of being outmatched. The Warriors tallied only 15 points in the opening frame and failed to produce a 20-point scorer, while shooting a frigid 8-of-30 from beyond the arc against the Clippers. Meanwhile, Los Angeles won the rebound battle 48-33, converted 25-of-25 attempts from the free throw line, and escaped with a narrow 7-point victory, proving quite emphatically that the Dallas Mavericks should not have trounced them by 51 points.
However, similarly to the aforementioned "baseball series" against Portland, Game 2 against the Clippers provided a much different narrative. While the Clippers built a 22-point lead in the third quarter and seemed poised to steamroll the floundering Warriors, Golden State's resilience prevented Los Angeles from ever delivering the final blow. While Andrew Wiggins (16 points) and Eric Paschall (12 points) served as key contributors, the Warriors' comeback was largely fueled by Stephen Curry's spontaneous ability to "go nuclear".
With a highly improbable 34-6 run in the second half, Golden State erased a 22-point deficit and clinched a 115-105 victory in Game 2 against their rivals from Southern California. Curry tallied 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting in the Warrior victory, sinking 9-of-14 attempts from downtown while dishing out 11 assists. On the evening of January 8, it became official: this team is still scary.
Game 10 - 1/10 vs. TOR
As if Golden State's young season were in need of additional drama, the Warriors' tilt against the Toronto Raptors seemed eager to provide. In a rematch of the 2019 NBA Finals, the Bay Area's team enjoyed the edge for 45 minutes (including a 17-point advantage in the second half). However, the scrappy Raptors outscored the Warriors 33-19 in the fourth quarter, snatching a lead late in the final frame.
Although seven Golden State players finished the contest in double-digit scoring, Stephen Curry's dreadful shooting night remained at the forefront of the Warriors' struggles. Despite collecting nine rebounds and dishing six assists, Curry went 2-of-16 from the field, including an icy 1-of-10 on three-point attempts.
With Toronto leading 105-104 in the final seconds, Damion Lee sought to emerge as the hero once more, letting a game-deciding shot fly from beyond the arc and drawing contact. After Lee connected on a pair of clutch free throws, Pascal Siakam missed a buzzer-beating jumper for the Raptors, and the Warriors escaped with a narrow 106-105 victory.
Games 11 and 12 - 1/12 vs. IND --- 1/14 @ DEN
As evidenced by their uneven play during the month of January, the Warriors' youthful enthusiasm throughout the 2020-2021 NBA season is both a blessing and curse. While this team may emerge with clutch victories on many nights, its collective growing pains are inescapable.
Such was the case on January 12, when the Warriors jumped out to an early advantage over the Indiana Pacers before ultimately surrendering the contest, courtesy of a 13-0 Pacer run late in the fourth quarter. On this night, Golden State struggled to create their offense against a gritty Indiana squad, shooting only 38% from the field and tallying merely 38 points in the second half of their nine-point loss.
Golden State's fortunes did not improve in a road date with the Denver Nuggets. While Stephen Curry was miraculous once more, tallying a game-high 35 points and collecting 11 rebounds, the double-digit contributions of James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins, and Kelly Oubre Jr. were still not enough for the Warriors to keep pace with the Nuggets. Denver outscored Golden State 37-24 in the first quarter, and more than doubled their bench contributions (41 points to 20) en route to a 10-point victory.
Game 13 - 1/18 @ LAL
After suffering back-to-back losses against lesser teams, few basketball analysts could have predicted that the Warriors would enter Los Angeles and present a problem for the defending NBA Champion Lakers. This would have been particularly true given the knowledge that Stephen Curry would have a rough night from the field, shooting only 8-of-22 (and 3-of-12 from distance).
Insert the old sports adage "that's why they play the game" here. Although the Lakers built an early 19-point advantage and clung to a 64-48 lead at halftime, the resilient Warriors managed to hang around into the final minutes, finishing off their second remarkable comeback victory against a Western Conference title contender.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it was Kelly Oubre Jr. who put together his best performance in blue and yellow, contributing 23 points in addition to his clutch defensive intensity. Meanwhile, Eric Paschall and Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 19 and 18 points respectively, and Stephen Curry finished with a game-high 26 (including sinking a dagger three over Anthony Davis with only 1:07 to play).
In the end, LeBron James missed a game-winning buzzer-beater for the Lakers, and the Warriors emerged with an improbable 115-113 victory. Although Los Angeles remains heavy favorites for the 2021 NBA Title, Stephen Curry now holds a 25-2 record in head-to-head matchups against Anthony Davis.
Game 14 - 1/20 vs. SAS
Following an iconic victory in Los Angeles, the Warriors returned to San Francisco and put together (arguably) their most complete game of the young season, running away from an immensely talented San Antonio squad with a 121-99 victory over the Spurs. Despite its billing as a matchup worth circling, Golden State had built a 19-point lead by halftime, and never trailed in the contest.
Stephen Curry led the way once more with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Meanwhile, James Wiseman posted a career-high 20 points, and Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. made significant offensive contributions with 18 and 16 points, respectively. On the defensive end, Golden State effectively neutralized the San Antonio attack, holding the Spurs to 37% from the field, and 4-of-33 (12.2%) from distance.
Games 15 and 16 - 1/21 vs. NYK --- 1/23 @ UTA
Unfortunately for Steve Kerr and his coaching staff, the Warriors followed one of their most impressive performances of the season with a pair of clunkers, reminiscent of their early season struggles against Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
In a January 21 meeting with the New York Knicks, Golden State was almost instantly buried by a sub-.500 team playing well above its means. Backed by a career-best performance from sophomore sensation RJ Barrett (28 points on 10-of-17 shooting), the Knicks tallied 40 points in the first quarter and never looked back.
While Stephen Curry routinely netted a game-high 30 points, any hope of a Warrior comeback was thwarted late in the second quarter, when Draymond Green was mistakenly ejected (picking up his second technical foul for yelling at teammate James Wiseman after an offensive miscue).
Following Green's ejection, the Warriors posted only 19 points in the third quarter of play. Meanwhile, their offensive flow was completely denied by constant foul calls. The teams combined for 80 free throws throughout the contest (32-of-41 for New York, 29-of-39 for Golden State) and the Knicks rode their grinding style of play to a 15-point victory.
In their ensuing matchup against the Utah Jazz, Golden State was rattled by an early 14-0 run and seemingly never stood a chance. Resident All-Star Donovan Mitchell led the charge for Utah with 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as the Jazz stomped the Warriors to collect their eighth consecutive victory.
Providing a small silver lining for Golden State, Stephen Curry once again made history in the Warriors' matchup with the Jazz, sinking his 2,561st three to leapfrog Reggie Miller for the second-most in NBA history. While Curry would undoubtedly prefer a fourth championship to personal accolades, he currently sits less than 400 threes away from surpassing Ray Allen for the most in NBA history.
Games 17 and 18 - 1/25 vs. MIN --- 1/27 vs. MIN
Seeking to regain their footing as a playoff caliber team in the Western Conference, the Warriors played host to the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and Wednesday. This matchup was surrounded by immense intrigue, as it promised to feature both Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman (the top two picks of the 2020 NBA Draft), as well as a showdown between D'Angelo Russell and Andrew Wiggins (players who were traded for one another in February 2020).
Nonetheless, these two highly anticipated storylines were nearly erased on Monday night, as Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr relegated James Wiseman to the bench in favor of Kevon Looney, and D'Angelo Russell was marked inactive with a quad injury. However, Golden State did manage to right their proverbial ship by dictating the flow of play against an outmatched Minnesota squad.
Stephen Curry dropped a game-high 36 points on the Timberwolves (including 15 in fourth quarter crunch time) as the Warriors rolled to a 130-108 victory. This contest marked Curry's eighth 30+ point performance of the season. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins was also instrumental in Golden State's impressive win, scoring 23 points in his own right and tallying multiple blocks for the seventh time this season. Malik Beasley netted a season-high 30 points for the Timberwolves in a losing effort.
While D'Angelo Russell was sidelined once again on Wednesday, the aforementioned Anthony Edwards versus James Wiseman storyline finally came to fruition quite notably. Wiseman set a new career-high in the second game of this "baseball series", dropping in 25 points off the bench (including 3-of-3 from distance). Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards tallied 25 points for the Timberwolves (courtesy of a 5-of-8 line from beyond the arc).
Despite trailing early in the contest, the Warriors found their offensive rhythm in the second frame and never looked back. Recovering from early foul trouble, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a career-best 16 points in the quarter (drawing a Flagrant 2 foul on Ed Davis in the process). Oubre finished with 20 points and received significant complementary performances from the likes of Andrew Wiggins (19 points) and Damion Lee (17 points). Although superstar Stephen Curry managed only two points in the first half, he delivered a plethora of clutch buckets to expand Golden State's lead in the third quarter, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in a 123-111 victory.
Team Grade: B
While the Warriors have certainly suffered their fair share of demoralizing defeats in the first month of the 2020-2021 campaign, they have also completed a pair of remarkable comebacks against two divisional juggernauts, and seen their future Hall of Famer erupt for a career-high 62 points and ultimately surpass Reggie Miller for the second most three-pointers in NBA history.
After Golden State failed to contend with Brooklyn and Milwaukee in their first two contests, most analysts would have considered a winning record to be an unattainable pipe dream. Nonetheless, the Warriors are 10-8 as they enter Thursday night's matchup with the Suns, and will only continue to improve as youngsters such as James Wiseman and Eric Paschall develop into their prime.
Although there is an argument to be made for this team's relevance only being sustained by Stephen Curry's MVP caliber play, if Golden State's superstar continues to shine (while receiving consistent secondary scoring from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins on the wing), it is reasonable to suggest that the Warriors may still be relevant in May. Furthermore, if Klay Thompson returns to form in 2021-2022, the NBA will undoubtedly be forced to accept a fresh title contending team in the Bay Area.
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