The new NBA season has been going on for almost two months, and the competition in the West is fierce and unprecedented. There are 11 teams with a win rate of more than 5 percent, from the 1st Timberwolves in the West to the 11th Warriors in the West, in fact, they are all competitive. Including the Grizzlies, who had a record of only 6-19 in the first 25 games of the opening game, after Morant's return, first a 24-point reversal, Morant beat the Pelicans, and then defeated the Pacers, who were the league's first offense, and it was only a matter of time before the Grizzlies caught up with the big team. In the top 11 in the West, it is divided into three grades, the Timberwolves have led for a long time and opened the gap with the Thunder and Nuggets behind them, and they are alone in one gear; Thunder, Nuggets, Kings, Clippers, Pelicans, Mavericks, these teams, the gap between the front and back is only 3 wins, this is the second group. And behind them, followed by the Rockets, Lakers, Suns and Warriors!
The four Western Conference contenders (Los Angeles duo + Suns and Warriors) and three are in Group 3, which proves that they all have their own problems at the beginning. Although the Suns have two super scorers Booker and Durant, they can't lead their teammates, resulting in losing 8 of the last 11 games, and even teams like the Trail Blazers can't beat them. The Lakers suffered 4 consecutive defeats, since winning the championship in the midseason, all the members are not in shape, Lao Zhan is really affected by age, he has more than enough strength and is not enough, he has entered a period of exhaustion, the defense is indeed very average, the key Lakers have no outside projection, they can only impact the basket and play very tired. In the first two months of the Warriors, it was like a roller coaster: 6-2 in the first 8 games, 4-12 in the next 16 games, and all the last 4 games!
First of all, the Warriors' record this season has just reached 5 percent, in fact, there are many problems, the most important is the lack of a second scoring point! Curry averaged 28.3 points per game this season, but during the 4-12 period, the team's second scoring point, Klay only averaged 15 points per game, not to mention the sluggish Wiggins, Curry was difficult to support alone! Of course, Kerr was forced to change the lineup, take Wiggins, and at the same time set an example to deter Klay, the effect is very obvious, in the last 5 games, Klay averaged 25.2 points per game +48.2% 's three-point shooting percentage (5.4 three-pointers per game), hot hand! In Klay's own words, he firmly believes that he will be able to get back into shape, he just needs to keep working hard! In addition, after Podemsky and Kuminga were promoted to the starters, the impact and movement ability of the two were blessed by Klay!
But the Warriors also have a lurking problem, which is the thorny Dream Chase Green. Green averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game this season, including a three-point shooting rate of 42.9 percent, which is a career-high three-point shooting rate! However, he has repeatedly committed crimes this season, dragged Gobert by the neck, was suspended for 5 games, played 6 games after his return, and slapped Nurkic with 360-degree spin and force, and was banned indefinitely! According to Charania, Green will be banned for at least three weeks, and the league plans to conduct psychological counseling and analysis on him, and he must undergo various necessary procedures before returning to the team. In Green's absence, the Warriors' four-game winning streak proves that the team doesn't need Green Kuminga to take advantage of his chances, averaging 12.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game this season, because of his athleticism and impact, the Warriors are more dynamic on the offensive end.
Curry is also adapting to this system, gradually playing a sense of hand, except for the game against the Trail Blazers, Curry is rarely sluggish, there are 3 games left, Curry averages 33.3 points per game, Curry starts the team, Podemski shares Curry's pressure with the ball, Curry and Paul partner, Paul controls the court. The key is that Green is not there, the space on the Warriors is completely opened, only Looney is not projected in the starters, and everyone on the bench can open up the space, which is also the fundamental reason why Klay suddenly broke out, the opponent's defense takes care of one or the other, and this is the case with the Celtics, the opponent sandwiches Curry, Klay erupts, the opponent is one-on-one marking, and there is nothing to be done about the Warriors' range. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Curry scored 20 points alone to dominate the game! If it is really Green, the opponent will target Klay and Curry, can the Warriors win?
Before the game with the Wizards, Curry was asked about Green's boxing of Poole last season, and Curry said that the leaked video complicated the situation, but it was actually between the two of them, and we are trying to deal with this tricky situation. Including the recent wave of four straight wins, Curry praised Kuminga's impact after consecutive games, including the dominance of the young interior Davis under the basket, in Curry's words, when everyone on the team is contributing energy, that gets into the rhythm (winning). And Kerr was more blunt: Green's suspension gave the youngsters more opportunities, and they took their chances, it's as simple as that. Wiggins went off the bench to activate Klay, Green was suspended, and the Warriors played youngsters, so what about Green?
As the highest-paid team in the league ($212 million for the Warriors, $400 million for this season including the Super Luxury Tax, $202 million for the Clippers), the Warriors should not have such a bad record, but Green has done a huge amount of damage to the team, and unlike the previous slump of Klay and Wiggins, he is subjectively unable to control his emotions and behavior. Once Curry decides not to be Green's backing, then Green's good days will come to an end! I think even if Green returns, it is very likely to start from the bench, and if he commits another crime, it is best to send him away!