Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30)
The Golden State Warriors are 27-26. They’ve won eight of their last ten games, but all that recent hot streak has done is give Steve Kerr’s team a little breathing room between the 10th seed (which Golden State currently inhabits) and the dreaded 11th seed, which would mean no postseason.
After losing to the Clippers on Wednesday, Warriors star Stephen Curry said the team has been “very average” at home this season, posting a record of 14-14 in Chase Center. But could Steph’s remarks apply to Golden State’s season as a whole?
Through 53 games, the Warriors’ offense has been good. It hasn’t been world-beating like in past years, but the Dubs have the seventh-best offensive rating in the NBA. That’s certainly nothing to scoff at. Recently, it’s been even better — fourth-best in the league over the past 15 games. Golden State is still a top-five three-point shooting team in attempts, makes and percentage because a team with Curry will have some impressive offensive numbers; he singlehandedly makes an offense dangerous.
Unfortunately for Golden State fans, that’s about where the optimism stops. Because outside of some formidable offensive numbers, the rest of Golden State’s stats look average.
One in particular jumps off the page: 11-23. That’s the Warriors’ record against teams with winning records, a worse winning percentage against .500 teams than Memphis, a team that is 16 games under .500.
Another concerning number? 20. That’s where Golden State ranks in defensive rating. In the modern NBA, teams don’t need to be a stifling defensive presence to make noise in the playoffs. Last year, Denver was good but not great on that end and still captured a title. However, teams still need to be passable on defense if they want a shot when the games slow down in the playoffs, and a bottom-ten defense does not count as passable.
Playing well in the clutch is another way for teams to separate themselves from the pack in May and June. Golden State has been below average in that regard, going 18-19 in clutch time situations this season, 17th in the league. Its defense in the clutch, specifically, is abysmal. Fifth-worst in the league, ahead of three tanking teams and Atlanta. A team that can’t stop anyone down the stretch isn’t likely to go far, and the Warriors can’t stop anybody late.
Curry was talking about Golden State’s play at home when he described the team as “very average,” but a deeper look at the Warriors’ profile reveals that Curry might be right on a larger scale as well.
These Warriors are just average. Of course, counting them out completely would be silly, but there are clear reasons to be concerned about this team even after a solid stretch of play.
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