Warriors show flashes of greatness in win over Memphis; is it sustainable?

Night to night is a rollercoaster for Dub Nation's emotions with this year's team.

Last night in the Golden State Warriors’ 137-116 domination of the Memphis Grizzlies, we saw the signs of a quality playoff team that we had imagined before the season began.

• A season high 43 assists with only 6 turnovers. Golden State’s passing was decisive, creative, and joyfully communal.

• Chris Paul had 14 assists off of the bench, his season high, demonstrating the floor generalship and connectivity that the Warriors were banking on when they traded the explosive but erratic Jordan Poole for him.

• The Dubs cracked the game open with a 22-0 run spanning between the second and third quarters. Remember when they used to drown teams all the time with scoring runs that included stingy defense and spectacular shooting?

• Jonathan Kuminga scored 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting, knocking down 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He was hell on the Grizzlies in transition, terrorizing them on the break with LeBronian speed and rim rattling dunks. A buddy of mine texted me “Air Congo” after one of those super jams and I couldn’t stop giggling. That might be my new fav nickname for the third year baller.

• Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double, scoring 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was in the mix all night, defending his honor against the Grizz as only he can. You’re just not gonna bully Draymond.

• Andrew Wiggins had a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double?! Every time Dub Nation is ready to get exasperated with his quiet play, he emerges with a forceful performance that reminds us why he’s a former #1 overall pick, All-Star, and key component to their 2022 championship run.

• The Splash Bros keep on splashin’. Stephen Curry scored 14 points and hit his 300th triple of the season, making him the first player in NBA history to have five such seasons. Meanwhile Klay Thompson (who hit 301 treys last season) scored 23 points last night with five made three-pointers. These have been bombing together for so long that it’s just kind of assumed that they’re going to light it up from beyond the arc. They’re big part of the reason that these Warriors could be the most dangerous 10th seed of all time.

I really believe the Warriors have the pieces needed to put together a strong playoff run. If they defend with grit, rebound with tenacity, run like the wind, shoot like snipers, and finish around the rim with authority? They’re a tough out. They have the guys who can do all of those things.

So the question is, why have they had so much trouble this whole season doing just that?