Unfair James Wiseman correlation in Golden State Warriors revival

A 23-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves signified another checkmark in a Golden State Warriors outfit that continues to build towards their championship-selves. The Warriors are now 8-3 in their last 11 games, or 8-2 if you exclude the game on November 21st where the starting five were rested against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 11-game stretch has correlated with the omission of James WIseman from the starting lineup, with the former number two overall pick now plying his trade with Santa Cruz in the G League. 

While James Wiseman’s departure has corresponded with a Golden State Warriors revival, it’s unfair to make too much connection between the two.

Many on social media have been quick to identify the correlation, but aside from being a symbolic and obvious tipping point to the Warriors’ turnaround, there’s much more than simply the subtraction of Wiseman that’s gone into the team’s recent success.

https://twitter.com/GoIdenState/status/1597010545491648512

The 21-year-old’s inability to make winning contributions was a major issue in the Warriors’ early form, but he was hardly the only individual to be performing well below expectations. Klay Thompson’s shooting struggles, for example, had nothing to do with the presence of Wiseman.

Thompson’s recent return to form — averaging 20.8 points on 46.2% three-point shooting in his last ten games — has been a major catalyst to Golden State’s turnaround. It’s emanated from far greater shot-selection where the 32-year-old is playing in the flow of the offense rather than forcing ill-advised shots.

Jordan Poole is another player who’s building into better individual form, though you could theoretically bring Wiseman into this conversation. The reality is that anyone is going to play better next to Draymond Green than Wiseman, and the discussion should more be around what the addition of the four-time All-Star has done for Poole rather than what the subtraction of Wiseman has.

The same bench and defensive issues are still evident, but the Warriors’ offensive firepower is proving enough right now. At some point Wiseman will be given another opportunity and the pressure will be unscrupulous high when he does.