Golden State can tie the 1993-94 Houston Rockets for best overall start in history at 15-0 with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Sixth man Andre Iguodala added 12 points and was a plus-24 for the game, while Draymond Green had nine points, nine boards and five assists.
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Last year’s beaten finalists had suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, including a double-overtime loss to the Bucks on Sunday, to drop to 8-3, but LeBron James ensured that it would not be three in a row as he led his side to victory. His marksman-like ability to shoot off of the dribble and off of the catch is unparalleled, and no player in National Basketball Association history has shot such a high volume of three-pointers at such a high percentage. To put that into perspective, no other player bar the resurgent Rajon Rondo (seven, with four of those coming this season) has more than four.
“When you’re up 10, 15 and you feel like you’re in control the whole game”, Noel said, “it hurts a little more”. But Curry came back with a nice under-the-rim drive and rolled the ball across his fingertips and through the net for two, the score 94-89 with barely more than three minutes left. Golden State is now 14-0, and the NBA’s best opening record ever (16-0) is in sight.
He missed his first two attempts Friday, but sank the next six on his way to 18 first-half points that helped give the Hornets the kind of decisive lead the Sixers (0-13) have not been able to rebound from this season. “But I know this and I agree with Steve that we need to watch his minutes”. Whether they start a game off strong or struggle initially, once they get going, social media blows up in a special way reserved for the best of the best. “We know going small for too long doesn’t work because it takes so much energy to guard bigger players”. A win against the Nuggets would also leave the Warriors one win away from breaking the all-time record. “I thought Kirk did as much as he could to make it tough on him”. Going small risks playing the game on the Warriors’ terms, which is a recipe for a blowout. “All you’re doing now is thinking about winning one game”. Hmmmm…maybe they should be first.
Included in that run was another spectacular play by Curry, who ripped the ball away from Joakim Noah and set up Iguodala for an alley-oop dunk that cut the lead to one. Nikola Mirotic added 18 points and 10 rebounds and center Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, who were held to 39.8 percent shooting. “But now that we’re within striking distance, we can answer that question – it’s real, and we want to get there”. The National Basketball Association story line suddenly revolves not around LeBron, but the Warriors. Having played eight of their first 14 games at home, the Warriors go on the road for nine of their next 11…. Stephen Curry, the one-time frail point guard with glass ankles and zero defensive ability, had really begun to break out as a star in the league. They converted 15 Lakers turnovers into 21 points. They’re always challenging teams, despite their record.
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Where have you gone, Don Nelson, Monta Ellis, David Lee and those entertaining teams that look like fluffy Disney characters next to this beast?
