Golden State Warriors: So far, so good

November 16, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach

watches game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

1. Is the team ready to run Steve Kerr’s offense?

This was one of the biggest talking points for the Warriors’ offseason. Last season’s team was criticized for only being average offensively, despite having two of the best shooters in the NBA and arguably the best backcourt in the league. The team’s offense was stagnant and one-dimensional. Former head coach Mark Jackson was enamored with running post-up plays and put his faith in the each player’s individual ability to score on isolation plays.

Things have definitely changed under Steve Kerr.

The Warriors have gone from the team with the least passes made from last season to the team with the most passes made per game this year. They move the ball at a quicker rate and have seemed more pass-friendly in the first ten games. The ball barely sticks with one particular player, and if it does, it’s usually Andrew Bogut receiving the ball in the high post while his teammates cut around him.

They also play at the fastest pace in the league. Averaging 102.16 possessions per 48 minutes, the Warriors look to push the ball at every possible opportunity. Watch them after they gather a defensive rebound and you’ll notice their urgency at running the ball up the court. It seems as though anyone on the team has a license to dribble the ball up – yes, even Bogut.

Speaking of Bogut, he has been a revelation this season. During his time in Golden State, Bogut has never been this big a part of the offense and has been largely underutilised by his coaches. In the current set up, Bogut receives the ball near the top of the key, and will attempt a rub-handoff with any of his cutting guards. This has a two-fold effect: it forces Bogut’s defender to follow him away from the paint, and creates some breathing room for Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson. Those two are deadly with their quick releases, any extra space or second they have to shoot greatly increases the chances of a made field goal.

However, it hasn’t all been rosy. The Warriors still suffer greatly from turnovers. They lead the league in turnovers per game, tied with the Houston Rockets. Much of that has to do with the unfamiliarity of the system and simple bad decision-making on the players’ part. The fanciful passing can be electrifying when it’s pulled off properly, but bad timing can lead to turnovers in crucial moments of the game.

The team has done well so far to follow the basic principles of Kerr’s offense, but there are still kinks that need to be worked out.