Warriors Defense Key to Undefeated Start and Other Saturday NBA Takeaways
You've probably come to expect scoring efforts like the one Stephen Curry turned in during Saturday night's 98-87 victory over the previously unbeaten Houston Rockets. He made six of his nine three-point attempts en route to a game-high 34 points, making Golden State the only remaining undefeated team at 5-0 this season.
You also expect Curry to make it look effortless, breaking down defenders with nifty dribble-drive antics like this.
But you might not have expected a Golden State Warriors defense that currently ranks first in efficiency, giving up just 89.4 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. So far, that's a dramatic improvement over the 99.9-point mark this team set a season ago, which itself ranked third in the NBA.
Put simply, the Warriors defense seems to be reaching new heights—even though it was already much better than some might have guessed.
Curry's four steals against Houston were symptomatic of the collective improvement, and he wasn't fighting the new-found reputation after the game.
And why not? He was averaging three steals per contest coming into Saturday's game, and he's spearheading a renewed defensive commitment alongside two-way shooting guard Klay Thompson.
"I enjoy making defensive plays, getting stops," Curry told reporters after a 121-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. "Trying to make it harder on who you're guarding. Obviously, if you are playing point guard, you are in a lot more plays and directly impacting the ball.
"You've got to be even more engaged in that regard."
And you also need some help.
Center Andrew Bogut protected the rim in a big way against Houston, racking up four blocks and 18 rebounds in Dwight Howard's absence (due to illness). Bogut was averaging two blocks per contest entering Saturday's game, and there's little doubt his size and activity are giving the Warriors a real difference-maker in the paint.
Collectively, Golden State forced 22 turnovers and held Houston to a 34.9 percent success rate from the field. The Rockets were held to 31 points in the second half and just 13 in the third quarter.
After beating each of its previous six opponents by a double-figure margin, Houston suddenly looked out of rhythm and out of answers. Head coach Kevin McHale's otherwise prolific scorers made just 10 of their 42 three-point attempts, headlined by James Harden's 1-for-11 performance from beyond the arc.
Not everyone will credit the Warriors for the final score.
"We ran out of gas a little bit and our shots didn't fall," Rockets reserve Jason Terry told media after the game. "...we just have to stay mentally tough when the ball doesn't fall."
Maybe the Warriors had a little something to do with the gas shortage. It wouldn't be the first time they've rattled an opposing offense this season. They held the Sacramento Kings to just 77 points in the season-opener and subsequently limited the otherwise explosive Portland Trail Blazers to 90 points.
There's still a ways left to go in the season, but so far, head coach Steve Kerr's new regime has picked up where his predecessor's left off. This team is building a defensive identity that just might start overshadowing its high-scoring reputation.
Around the Association
Griffin Comes Up Big Despite Stomach Illness
Blake Griffin added 23 points to his Los Angeles Clippers' 106-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers despite a stomach sickness that took its toll during the game.
"I thought I was [dead]," Griffin told reporters afterward. "It wasn't too bad until I started running up and down."
It's not quite MJ's "Flu Game," but it's a timely heroic effort for a team that hasn't always looked like itself early into the 2013-14 season. Saturday's win takes the Clippers to 4-2.
Bosh Rising to Post-LeBron Occasion in Miami
We all knew Chris Bosh would have to carry more of the scoring load without LeBron James around. But with the Miami Heat's 102-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, he reached a level of consistency he hasn't displayed since his days with the Toronto Raptors.
Bosh and fellow star Dwyane Wade scored Miami's last 12 points, locking up a game the Heat led 29-13 after the first quarter.
"That's why we get all the headlines, that's why we get paid the most money, to try to come through," Wade told media after the game. "We've got to make the right play for the team."
The victory halted a two-game slide for the Heat, who are now 4-2 on the season.
Bucks Hand Grizzlies First Loss of Season with Late And-One
The Memphis Grizzlies entered Saturday night's game with a 6-0 record and a defense that doesn't stop.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Knight had something to say about that, laying the ball in and earning a go-ahead free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining in the game.
That translated into a tight 93-92 win.
The narrow victory gives Milwaukee a 3-4 record that puts it on pace to dramatically improve upon last season's league-worst 15-67 mark. New head coach Jason Kidd's presence is almost certainly being felt already.
Rookie Starts in Place of Injured Ricky Rubio
Taken with the 13th overall pick in this summer's draft, UCLA product Zach LaVine got his first career start with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It may not be the last one for the 19-year-old.
According to Jeff Zillgitt, "Rubio may miss as many as 7-8 weeks with a badly sprained left ankle, a person familiar with the injury told USA TODAY Sports."
It's a rough start to the season for the fourth-year floor general, who just inked a lucrative four-year extension with the organization.
"He's in good spirits," head coach Flip Saunders told reporters before facing Miami. "He feels good. Anyone who knows Ricky, he went through his knee situation a few years ago, he's an extremely hard worker. So he'll get back. If anyone is going to get back as soon as they can, he'd be a guy that would."
Reigning Champs Lose No. 3 after Anthony Davis' Go-Ahead Layup
It's too soon to call it a slump, but the San Antonio Spurs' 2-3 start to the season puts them at the very bottom of a highly competitive Southwest Division.
The New Orleans Pelicans pulled just ahead of them in that division with a 100-99 victory on Saturday night, holding on after a late go-ahead layup from 21-year-old dark-horse MVP candidate Anthony Davis. The third-year star admitted after the game on NBA TV that the play was originally designed for Jrue Holiday to get the ball on a backdoor cut.
Davis kept it instead, and head coach Monty Williams is probably just fine with that.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis Has Never Been So Happy to See Blake Griffin
Griffin is no stranger to finding himself on the floor.
Finding himself in Big Baby's arms is another story.
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