No drama, comedy, National Football League game or documentary has come even close to topping the type of basketball that the Warriors play that has become so captivating.
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Well, that’s easier said than done, but the Suns for the second time this year got cooked by the Warriors, 128-103, as if they’d set the garbage fire with their flaming scouting reports. The Suns played with Golden State for almost two full quarters, but all along it felt like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would soon start making the open shots and get that 12th cylinder in their usually-efficient offense firing.
The Philadelphia 76ers lost their eighth game on the bounce in a 127-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans managed a seventh win of the season by beating the Utah Jazz 104-94.
It’s absolutely possible that a lineup with Curry holds or even extends that 11-point lead over the last few minutes of the third quarter, which would have changed the dynamics of the fourth quarter pretty dramatically. He also leads the league in points per game with 32.3 and registers six assists per game as well.
It consists of Curry, Klay, Iggy, Harrison Barnes and Dray as the center. The biggest improvement has come on the defensive end.
They’re not used to losing. The Phoenix Suns are shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc and 74.3 percent from the free throw line. It’s so enthralling and fun because what Curry and the Warriors are doing is so uncommon. That team was special in its own way.
Before the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he is feeling better as he deals with complications from back surgery, and he hopes to be back on the bench in the next two to three weeks.
“I was bigger than everybody”, Green said, before smiling and adding, “Substantially bigger than everybody, but I was still bringing the ball up the court, still driving by people, still shooting the ball”.
As ever, the defending champions excelled with style. By getting both players the ball in positions where they’re naturally comfortable, the Warriors’ point guards cut out the thought process that can slow the game down and lead to awkward turnovers. “Obviously a team that gave us our one in the loss column, and we felt they could have won with a little more class”. “It’s important for us realize that (the streak) was great, but we’re a quarter of the way through the regular season”. The Warriors care about history. The NBA’s longest winning streak was 33 by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971-72 – and it was also snapped by Milwaukee.
“They’re double-teaming us with 20 seconds left, and then Mo (speights) gets nearly taken out on a lay-up, so some questionable things went on late in the game, but we got the win”. Walton will have to rest players, especially after the All-Star break, and they need to be prepared to lose some of those games. For the Spurs, it has always equaled post-season success. And it concludes as the Warriors’ smart, unselfish ball movement punches through whatever weak spots are found in the opposition – be they backdoor cuts or weakside threes.
Jeff Hornacek has longed for his team to play smarter. As much as other factors contributed to their loss in Milwaukee, I would have loved to see them have a chance to win that game without being totally gassed.
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The Washington Wizards host the Warriors on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
