Golden State Warriors: Why This Team Is a Threat to Win the NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors are red-hot to start the 2014-15 season. The team boasts the NBA's best record at 19-2, it is in the midst of a franchise-record 14-game winning streak and it has talented players in every position.
At present, the Warriors are the best team in the league. Even if they do not put together another significant winning streak once this one ends, odds favor the Warriors remaining among the top teams in the West.
In fact, if all goes well, Golden State might have a legitimate shot at winning the NBA Finals.
There are two reasons why: The Warriors are an exceptional two-way team, and Steve Kerr coaches to his players' strengths.
The Warriors are a powerhouse on both sides of the ball. According to ESPN.com, this squad ranks fourth in the league in points per game (106.8) and sixth in points allowed per game (95.6).
But the numbers dive much deeper than points for and points against. In essentially all areas of the game, Golden State has proven dominant.
Because this team excels at scoring, it finds success shooting the ball as well. The Warriors are third in overall field-goal percentage (48.2), third in two-point percentage (52.7), fifth in 3-point percentage (37.6) and ninth in free-throw percentage (77.8).
It is clear shooting and scoring comes naturally for Golden State. Quite frankly, with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (a.k.a. "The Splash Brothers") leading the squad, this type of output is unsurprising.
The Warriors have also been marvelous at playing team basketball, as they rank second in assists per game (25.7) and third in assists per possession (0.254). The players mesh well on the court, and they play off of one another beautifully.
With this combination of high-level scoring and passing, Golden State has been quite a joy to watch.
Defensively, the Warriors have been even more phenomenal.
Along with the low amount of points it allows, the squad gives up the lowest field-goal percentage in the league (40.9 percent) and blocks the most shots with 6.4 per contest.
Golden State also cleans up on the glass, as it leads the NBA with 35.8 defensive rebounds per game.
This can be credited to the plethora of lockdown wing defenders the Warriors boast on their roster. With a seasoned veteran in Andre Iguodala, a solid small forward in Draymond Green, an athletic youngster in Harrison Barnes and a top-tier shooting guard in Thompson, Golden State's perimeter D has proven difficult to face.
The point guards deserve applause as well, as both Curry and backup Shaun Livingston have been excellent.
And, of course, there's center Andrew Bogut.
Before sitting out last Wednesday with tendinitis in his right knee, the Australian was anchoring the paint by forcing players to shoot a whopping 20.4 percent worse than usual near the rim, per NBA.com.
Undoubtedly, that type of paint protection is game-altering. There is no question Bogut is pivotal to the team's defensive success.
As a result of Golden State's offensive and defensive supremacy, it is currently beating opponents by an average of 11.2 points per night. Unsurprisingly, this is the most significant margin in the NBA.
These stats don't lie: the Warriors are the real deal.
They possess the talent to compete with the best, and as long as this elite two-way performance continues, the Warriors have a legitimate chance of competing until June.
Obviously, with Golden State playing well, multiple players and personnel involved with the franchise deserve praise.
But the man who warrants the most laud is rookie head coach Steve Kerr. Through his offensive system that encourages off-ball motion and passing, players are able to perform to their strengths and efficiently run the offense.
Under Mark Jackson—the previous head coach—isolation plays were a focal point. In fact, they occurred so frequently in Jackson's offense, the 2013-14 Warriors finished dead last in passes per game with 245.8.
However, with Kerr running the show, the dreaded iso-offense has practically disappeared. Ball movement and player movement are emphasized, and it has led to Golden State ranking 14th in passing with 309.4 per contest.
By implementing this type of active offensive scheme, Kerr is giving his players more freedom to shoot and make plays from various areas on the court. As a result, everyone is capable of contributing, and everyone is more comfortable doing so.
Bleacher Report's own Zach Buckley explains:
"He puts his players in positions where they are most comfortable: Bogut at the elbow, Shaun Livingston on the low block, Harrison Barnes flashing to the basket, Marreese Speights near the top of the key. Guys that are capable and comfortable initiating the offense, a list that includes Curry, Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green, are allowed and encouraged to do so.
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Judging by the Warriors' offensive success thus far, the squad is significantly benefiting from Kerr's concepts.
Furthermore, he has done an outstanding job promoting intensity on defense. The effort is present on a nightly basis. However, the Warriors already played high-quality defense last season.
As ESPN.com indicates, the team finished third in defensive efficiency (99.9).
Kerr's main priority entering the current campaign was to enhance Golden State's offense. By applying his passing-oriented offensive game plan, the Warriors have transformed into a threatening two-way team.
Questions still linger regarding Golden State. For example, how will the return of David Lee from injury affect the team's performance? Also, will Bogut be able to maintain his health?
Despite these inquiries, one thing is certain: Through the Warriors' initial 21 games, they have performed as the best team in the NBA.
It's still early, but as long as Golden State continues to play at this elite level, it will have a legitimate chance of winning the NBA Finals.
And at present, the team is showing no signs of slowing its roll.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of TeamRankings.com.
Josh Haar is an NBA Contributor for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JHaarNBA.
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