Bigger Challenge Awaits Streaking Warriors

Coming off of a convincing 112-85 victory at home last night vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, the Warriors have every reason to feel good about themselves.

An 11-game win streak, a top-flight offense and defense, and an NBA-best record of 16-2 are just a few of these reasons. Something else that we fans should always be thankful for is the good health of Andrew Bogut and early season MVP candidate Stephen Curry. So just what lays ahead for the feel-good story of the Golden State Warriors?

A rugged gauntlet, that’s what.

As some talking heads have been quick to point out, not one team that Golden State has beaten during their current 11-game win streak has a winning record. The Nets, Hornets, Lakers, Jazz, Thunder, Heat, Magic, Pistons, and Pelicans are all teams that sit below .500. As impressive as winning five straight on the road is, the Warriors still need to prove they can beat some of the NBA’s top teams. The Warriors will face all they can handle in their upcoming six games, with five of the games away from Oracle Arena. They’re slated to play the Bulls, Timberwolves, Rockets, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Grizzlies, and the combined record of those teams is a daunting 68-41.

If the Warriors can leave Chicago with a victory in hand, it will be another big statement to the rest of the league.

Each of these games — with the exception of the date against the T-Wolves — should provide ample opportunity for the Warriors to solidify themselves as the premier team in the league. Tomorrow night’s game vs. the Chicago Bulls will be a defensive slugfest that will attract a large audience, for one reason or another. It’ll be interesting to see if Kerr will continue to have Curry guard Derrick Rose, as he’s insisted on having Curry guard opponent’s point guards, regardless of who it is. I think I speak for many fans that will attest to Curry’s improved on-ball defense, which was on full display last night vs. the Pelicans.

Another aspect of the game to consider is how the Warriors will match up against Chicago’s big, physical front line of Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, and talented sixth man Taj Gibson. Kerr seems to dictate a lot of other team’s lineups by going small with Draymond Green as the starting power forward. If Chicago continues to start a lineup of Rose-Dunleavy-Butler-Gasol-Noah, then Green and Gasol will likely guard one another. This will put both teams at a disadvantage defensively, as Green will pull Gasol away from the paint with his three-point shooting, and Gasol can overpower Green on the low block.