ESPNThe Warriors' division title was a long time coming.
The last time the Golden State Warriors won a division title, Stephen Curry’s father was 11 years old.
The younger Curry led his team to its first division title in 39 years with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. The Warriors are 58-13, 4 ½ games ahead of the Hawks for the best record in the NBA and eight games up on the Grizzlies for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Their record is nearly the inverse of that of the team that Warriors coach Steve Kerr could have coached this season, the 14-57 Knicks.
The 58 wins are one shy of the franchise record for wins in a season, set by those last division champs, the 1975-76 team that in defense of its title from the previous season lost to the Suns in the Western Conference finals.
The 2014-15 team started well (by winning 21 of 23, including 16 in a row) and looks to be finishing well, with Tuesday’s win extending its current winning streak to seven games. The Warriors snapped the NBA's longest drought without a division title.
How have these Warriors pulled it off?
Curry and Thompson have been amazing
Stephen Curry’s scoring average (23.5 points per game) is nearly equal to what it was last season (24.0), but he’s been slightly more efficient (his PER has gone up every season he's been in the league). He leads the NBA in 3-pointers, free-throw percentage and steals.
Stephen Curry’s scoring average (23.5 points per game) is nearly equal to what it was last season (24.0), but he’s been slightly more efficient (his PER has gone up every season he's been in the league). He leads the NBA in 3-pointers, free-throw percentage and steals.
Klay Thompson is on pace for career-best shooting percentages from both 2-point range and 3-point range. He’s averaging three fewer minutes per game this season, but he’s doing more in them, scoring three more points per game.
But it’s not just them
The players surrounding Curry and Thompson have not just filled their roles, they’ve excelled in them.
The players surrounding Curry and Thompson have not just filled their roles, they’ve excelled in them.
Chief among those is Draymond Green, who filled the box score on Tuesday night with 14 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots. Green is closing in on the first 100-block, 100 3-pointers season in Warriors history and should be the only NBA player to hit both of those benchmarks this season.
Defense
This is arguably the best defensive team the Warriors have had relative to the rest of the NBA. They lead the NBA in defensive efficiency while playing at the fastest pace in the league.
This is arguably the best defensive team the Warriors have had relative to the rest of the NBA. They lead the NBA in defensive efficiency while playing at the fastest pace in the league.
Opponents are shooting 42.3 percent from the field against the Warriors, the lowest opponents’ field-goal percentage in the NBA this season.
If the Warriors can maintain that, it would be the lowest opponents’ field goal percentage they’ve ever allowed in a non-shortened season.
Most memorable win: Thompson’s amazing game
The Warriors’ most memorable win might have been the most memorable performance of the NBA season. Thompson scored a career-high 52 points against the Kings, including an NBA single-quarter record 37 points in the third quarter.
The Warriors’ most memorable win might have been the most memorable performance of the NBA season. Thompson scored a career-high 52 points against the Kings, including an NBA single-quarter record 37 points in the third quarter.
Thompson was 13-of-13 from the field and 9-of-9 from 3-point range. The nine 3-pointers set a record for a quarter. The 13 field goals tied the NBA mark. It was a true one-man show. Thompson’s teammates were a combined 1-of-7 from the field for four points in the quarter.
Looking ahead
The Warriors have won eight division titles as a franchise. Five of the previous seven resulted in appearances in the NBA Finals, with the Warriors winning two and losing three. |
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