Opinion
The Golden State Warriors have absolutely stormed out of the blocks to begin the NBA season, sitting top of the Western Conference standings with a 9-1 record to start their campaign.
The resurgence is fuelled by the ever-dominant Stephen Curry, who has been cooking up a storm in the last two seasons since missing most of the 2019-20 season through injury.
Curry became the oldest ever player to register 50-plus points and ten or more assists in a game, guiding the Warriors to a win over Atlanta this week.
The greatest shooter of all time has been a force to be reckoned with, going at 27 points per game to begin this season.
Curry has been dominant all-round, picking up his first triple-double in nearly six years, while also averaging six rebounds and six assists per game so far.
However, unlike last season, Curry hasn’t been carrying the load and Golden State seem to be showing some serious signs of squad depth – which has not been seen from the San Francisco outfit since the dynasty days.
One of the hottest prospects has to be the rise of Jordan Poole in the last 12 months.
We saw signs of what he had to offer last season, when he picked up 38 points against the Pelicans in May, but this season, as the starting two-guard, he has been picking up on average 18 points per game.
What makes this even better for the Dub Nation is the fact that it won’t be long until Poole will be used off the bench, rather than starting, with Klay Thompson edging closer to returning from injury for the first time in two years.
Klay Thompson (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Come New Year, when we expect to see the ‘Splash Brothers’ teaming up in the back court, the Warriors will have the likes of Poole, Damion Lee and Gary Payton II, who has shown some individual moments of brilliance coming off the bench in the last week.
To have these three players, who are all showing constant signs of improvement, coming on the court to give the two best shooters of all time a rest, you know you are doing well as a franchise.
Looking at the Warriors’ forwards, Draymond Green has continued to prove himself as one of the NBA’s best playmakers, picking up 73 assists in the first ten games of the season.
The power forward has continued to be a menace on deck, averaging more than eight rebounds per game while chipping in when needed as well with just under eight points per game.
Otto Porter Jr and Nemanja Bjelica have both proven themselves to be handy pickups, fitting into the Warriors’ play-style with both having a shooting above 45 per cent from three to begin the campaign.
If Steve Kerr can continue to get his bench players involved and filling the void when Curry does have an off game, then by the time the likes of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman return to the court, the Warriors could be more than capable of pulling off deep run in the playoffs.
Something that seemed a long way off 12 months ago.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The last people to realise or even recognise a dynasty is over are the former champions themselves. Golden State’s golden era is over despite…
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA, less than 24 hours after he hit Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf…
The golden glow has long since faded from Warriors star Draymond Green.
Golden State's sharpshooter is not as reliable this year.
Josh Giddey's Oklahoma City Thunder brought Adelaide back to earth with a thud.
Whether it was from producing huge dunks, playing great defence, blocking shots or showing off his freakish athleticism, Andrew Wiggins did all that and…
