Warriors win half of their first 20 games, yet sit 3 games out of West's #1 seed
Warriors win half of their first 20 games, yet sit 3 games out of West's #1 seed
62 GAMES TO GO BABY!
Imagine that on the eve of the 2022-2023 season I tell you that the reigning, defending, undisputed, heavyweight, four-time champion Golden State Warriors will be 3 games out of first place in the Western Conference by the time everybody finishes their Black Friday shopping…AND boast the most dominant home record in the league!
Would you be pleased?
Because that’s where the champs stand after knocking off the Utah Jazz last night in Chase Center; right on the edge of the #1 seed.
Of course, context is everything. The Dubs have scratched and clawed their way back to even after a 3-7 start and putting up a horrendous road record of 1-9. Their lottery picks are working up an unprecedentedly steep developmental hill, desperately learning how to manifest their grand potential while being restricted to very specific support functions.
Meanwhile their core star vets are shielding the franchise from a jealous onslaught of vengeful, thirsty opponents…and the pointed opinions of ruthless social media commenters.
But back to the original question: are you pleased?
Wait before we answer that, here’s some more questions: who are we measuring the Dubs against? Is it the relatively mediocre start to the season we’re seeing from rest of the league, or the ghosts from dominant GSW seasons past?
If we’re comparing ourselves to the (current) cream of the crop of the West, the #1 seed is the Phoenix Suns at 12-6. Sooo twenty games in and there’s no red-hot team that’s leaving GSW in the dust record-wise, nothing even like those scorching starts we’ve seen from good ol’ Phoenix before. Also….when has a Phoenix red-hot start ever translated into a championship?! But I digress.
If we’re comparing ourselves to what GSW’s standard of season starts is, are we comparing it to the 73-win team of 2015-2016?
DAMN, nobody should compare themselves to that excessive dominance. What about James Wiseman’s rookie year when we didn’t have Klay Thompson?
Oh okay, that looks a little more realistic. That was a team trying to figure themselves out on the fly while missing integral franchise piece Klay and introducing a lottery pick into the lineup. Hmm, then how’d the championship team do last year without Klay and Wiseman over the first 20 games?
Sheesh! Now that’s red-hot. Maybe that 20-0 start wasn’t so unrealistic after all if the team missed it by two games last season. But who cares; the Warriors can only control this season, which is why it’s heartening to see them respond back from those seven losses in their first ten games.
Hey remember when I wrote that article the first 10 games into the season polling DNHQ’s best and brightest about what Golden State’s record would be over the next ten?
Yikes. With the season officially 12% over, it’s time to give our predictions for what’s gonna happen over the next ten games: Kings, Cavs, @Kings, Spurs, @Suns, Knicks, @Rockets, @Pelicans, Clippers, Jazz.
I’m thinking 7-3…what do you think?
Another Gold Blooded Prophecy has been revealed before your eyes. Now let’s check in with how the pollsters saw it:
Looks like DNHQ has pretty good pulse of the team’s fortunes, eh? Here’s some quotes that made me smile from HQ readers like you:
We got another record to break, I guess, because I'm sure no team has started 3-7 and won it all. So, like, whatever... let's do that
- Dan Goutz
I am not sure what to write here but I am not very pessimistic. They are in a 5 game loosing streak but I am not very worried. Why am I not worried? I really don't know.
- Subhamoy
WHY AM I NOT WORRIED? I REALLY DON’T KNOW. I’ll tell you a reason that our dear friend Subhamoy shouldn’t be worried; and that’s the FACT that a healthy Warriors team will always have the rest of the NBA in terror.
Let us not forget to savor the heartbreak Golden State is currently causing their foes. Just check this excerpt from someone who appears to be a longsuffering Jazz fan who has seen enough of the Golden Empire’s reign of terror:
Lolol I love it! Let’s just cross our fingers that the Dubs can navigate the rest of this 82-grind with some semblance of health and cohesion and let the chips fall where they will come April. Until then, the Warriors are gonna just keep chugging along and getting busy with that Yay Area swagger. I invite you to do the same!
oof. Neemias Queta showing Wiseman what a dominant big man can do against a bad defender in the g league. ☹️
For those that haven't seen it yet. JJ interviews Steph:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I8D7tQwnJA