Biggest Surprises of the 2012-13 Golden State Warriors' Playoff Campaign

Every year in the playoffs there always seems to be a team that surprises everyone, and the Golden State Warriors are carrying the torch in 2013.

Not only have the Warriors exceeded expectations by knocking out the favored Denver Nuggets in the first round, but now they have a legitimate shot at reaching the Western Conference finals.

Their second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs is tied at 2-2, with the Spurs returning home for Game 5. However, the Warriors are a resilient group and have proven time after time that they can win on anyone else's court.

Golden State's playoff run thus far is nothing short of exciting, and there have been many key contributors that have played far beyond their expectations.

5. David Lee Returns from Torn Hip Flexor

In one of the medical miracles this year, David Lee returns from a "season ending" torn hip flexor just 11 days after he suffered the injury (via ESPN).

Although he played just a minute-and-a-half in Game 6 against the Nuggets, he brought motivation and inspiration to a young Warriors team that was looking to eliminate the Nuggets at home in front of a roaring Oracle Arena crowd.

Following his return, he played sparingly for the next few games against the Spurs, but there's no question that his early return had a meaningful impact for the team and the city.

4. The Warriors Defense

The Warriors were soundly effective on defense through the regular season, as they finished 13th in the league in defensive efficiency (per Hollinger's Team Stats).

In the playoffs, they've registered a nearly identical mark. They're holding opponents to 102 points per 100 possessions during the postseason, which is a tad better than the 102.6 points per 100 possessions during the regular season.

They held the Nuggets to under 100 points in two of the six contests, and the Spurs in two of the four contests thus far.

Mark Jackson has stated multiple times that the team's defense has been the backbone for all of the team's victories, and the Warriors must continue their work on the defensive end if they want to advance to the conference finals.

3. Harrison Barnes' Production

We all knew Harrison Barnes can play, and his steady contributions during the regular season proved it.

Barnes has grown up right before our eyes during the playoffs, and his role has increased drastically. Ever since Lee went down with his injury in the first game of the playoffs, Barnes was called upon to play the 4 at times and he acts as the most versatile option in the Warriors' small-ball lineups.

He led the Warriors' to victory in Game 4, recording 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 51 minutes of action. Barnes went just 9-for-26 from the field, but his aggressiveness and demeanor on offense is something we've never seen before from the 20-year old rookie.

During the postseason, Barnes is averaging 39 minutes per game, which is nearly 14 minutes more than his regular season average. Furthermore, his points average jumped from 9.2 PPG to 15.9 PPG and he's taking the third most field-goal attempts per game on his team (per Basketball Reference).

He has been put into a bigger role, and he has responded admirably.

2. Andrew Bogut's Resurgence

Andrew Bogut has only appeared in 32 regular-season games and he played just 24.6 minutes per game during that span, but he has heavily stepped up his production in the postseason.

He hasn't been scoring that effectively (8.1 PPG in 10 playoff games), but his defense, rebounding and ability to control the paint have been crucial to the Warriors' success.

Bogut has grabbed double-digit rebounds in five straight playoff games so far, including a 14-point, 21-rebound performance that sent the Nuggets packing.

Not only did Bogut prove that he can still play when he's healthy, but he's a game-changing presence and a legit seven-footer who allows the Warriors to play against the opposing big lineups that the Spurs use.

1. Stephen Curry's Rise to Superstardom

We all knew that Stephen Curry could play and that health was the major reason for his setbacks.

He unquestionably deserved an All-Star nod for his performance during the regular season.

But could we have ever guessed that Curry would develop into a bona fide superstar in his first ever playoff appearance?

He has averaged 25.0 points and 8.3 assists on 43 percent shooting from downtown and single-handedly dismantled the Nuggets in the first-round series.

During the playoffs, he didn't just become recognized as a superstar, but he has been playing better than any other player in the postseason. LeBron James might've been the regular season's Most Valuable Player, but Curry is arguably the postseason's MVP.

Curry has cooled off recently and a lingering ankle issue has slowed him down in the past two games, but his play will determine whether or not the Warriors come out victorious in the conference semifinals.