It’s officially been an entire month since the Golden State Warriors made their long-awaited return to the hardwood. This sample size doesn’t offer us much, as so many new faces and changes to the roster was always going to hinder them to start. But, how is this team holding up compared to the rest of the league?
The season began slowly as we expected. Three consecutive blowouts had everyone ready to push the panic button. Then, Stephen Curry detonated for 62 points over the Portland Trail Blazers and relaxed everyone once again.
Now, with 25 percent of the season in the books, the Warriors are about to hit their stride. The schedule in February gets a bit easier and as long as everyone is healthy, the team should be approaching that sweet point of the season when everything begins to click in place.
Before the Golden State Warriors look ahead to the rest of the season, let’s reflect on how they faired through the first month of play.
We’ll start simple. All the stats and advanced analytics don’t mean anything if the team isn’t winning games, right? So where do the Dubs land in the league standings?
League Standings – 9th in Western Conference
With an 8-8 record, the Dubs are sitting just outside of the playoff picture. Their early troubles and some recent lapses to teams like the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz have set them back even further.
Don’t fret just yet though. The Warriors are only three games back from being the third seed in the West. This conference is going to be tight all year long and the Dubs simply need to stay in the middle of the pack to earn a trip to the postseason.
Points Per Game – 14th
Many wondered how this high-powered offense would look without Klay Thompson on the floor. To no surprise, they have fallen to 14th in scoring – thanks to Stephen Curry’s near 30 points per game (3rd in NBA)
Offensive Rating – 22nd
More concerning is the Warriors’ Offensive Rating. An overreliance on Curry, who has had a few inefficient shooting games, has caused the Warriors’ rating to plummet from years prior. This number should rise as they grow more confident in their system and other guys begin hitting shots.
Assists Per Game – 7th
In better news, the Warriors are still one of the most selfless teams in basketball. They haven’t abandoned their strength in numbers motto and are in the top 10 for assists per game this season. Again, we’d expect this to improve – or at least stay the same – as the rest of the squad learns the system.
Defensive Rating – 17th
Defense was a major concern entering the season. Without Thompson to cover the perimeter, how would the Warriors look?
Thankfully, Kelly Oubre and Andrew Wiggins have been enough to counteract the loss of Thompson defensively. And, James Wiseman has been a prolific shot blocker at times, though his inexperience has held him back from making a massive impact just yet.
Most importantly, Draymond Green is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level. He has been incredible as the leader of this team. The Warriors have a DEF RTNG of 106 with Green on the floor – which would place them fifth in the league.
Pace – 3rd
The last thing I want to highlight is the Warriors’ pace. They are still playing a fast brand of basketball, pushing in transition to utilize the new athletic pieces they have. This has made them a fun team to watch, and Curry’s unbelievable conditioning has helped him keep up with the young guns.
The Warriors have always been at their best when they run and catch their opponents off guard. As the defense improves, we can expect to see more fastbreak plays and higher efficiency from the floor.