Complete Golden State Warriors Power Rankings After Season's First Month
The Golden State Warriors are off to a 15-0 regular-season start, and they show no sign of slowing down.
If there was any concern of a championship hangover, there certainly can't be any doubts anymore. The Warriors are the best team in the NBA, and it's not particularly close.
Stephen Curry has eviscerated the league, leaving unprecedented statistics in his swath of destruction. He may very well be on his way to winning back-to-back MVP awards, but it wouldn't be possible without his stellar supporting cast.
Golden State hardly made any changes to its roster this summer, rightfully betting that the young core would be sufficient to contend for the title.
The Warriors have a healthy mix of veterans and guys who are still developing. Curry has risen to scary heights, but there are several other players who have made leaps as well.
It's difficult to categorize the contributions of each Warrior. Everyone brings something unique to the table, and each piece is essential to the puzzle. The pecking order behind Curry might change each night, but certain faces have performed more consistently than others.
Reserves: 10-15
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15. Kevon Looney
Looney is still recovering from hip surgery, which he had in August, and he is yet to make his NBA debut. Even when the rookie returns to the court, he doesn't figure to have a shot to crack the rotation of an extremely deep roster.
14. Jason Thompson
It's a little surprising that Thompson finds himself this low on the list. When the Warriors signed him, the fit looked good on paper. Golden State could throw him in at center in small-ball lineups and utilize his pick-and-roll defense and mobility. Instead, he has hardly played.
13. Brandon Rush
Rush hasn't had his number called a lot this season, but he has put up three respectable performances when he was granted some playing time. He is a good spot-up shooter and seems to have regained confidence in the knee he injured in 2012. Rush is also big enough to guard both guard positions, so he fits right in defensively when the Warriors throw him out there.
12. Ian Clark
Clark has actually looked surprisingly competent for a guy who should realistically be buried on the bench behind a deep backcourt. The Warriors aren't asking much, but he hasn't been bad in the minutes he has played. He has looked confident with the ball in his hands, and he moves it well to his teammates out of the pick-and-roll.
11. James Michael McAdoo
McAdoo has seen some playing time this season, albeit in limited spurts. He usually gets an opportunity or two to score against his direct matchup. The fact that he usually plays in the first half and isn't just a garbage-time throw-in is positive.
10. Marreese Speights
Speights' minutes have been sliced this year. He doesn't really do anything unique that other Golden State bigs don't already bring to the table. He is still a very good mid-range shooter, but he won't be playing in crunch time.
Bench: 6-9
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9. Leandro Barbosa
Barbosa fills a niche role for the Warriors, and his production remains similar to that of last year. He comes in for brief spurts, pushes the ball relentlessly and tires out opposing guards. He has never been a great playmaker, but he can run the pick-and-roll a little bit and doesn't halt Golden State's motion offense.
He is shooting just 36.9 percent from the field so far, but his three-point shot has looked acceptable. Barbosa isn't quite as explosive as he once was, which makes finishing at the rim more difficult. He still has enough in the tank to earn regular playing time.
8. Shaun Livingston
Livingston is one of the Warriors' most crucial bench cogs, even though his modest numbers may not reflect that. He mixes with Curry in certain lineups, but he mostly allows the starting point guard to rest. He starts a lot of fourth quarters with some starters, and Golden State hardly loses a beat in those minutes.
Defenses often try to hide their weakest perimeter defenders on Livingston, who doesn't have a three-point shot in his arsenal. The Warriors then throw him the ball and allow him to go to work in the post. That adds another interesting element to the team's offense, and Livingston continues to be efficient in that area. He can also guard three positions, which adds to his value.
7. Andrew Bogut
Bogut has reclaimed his starting spot, but he has only played in nine games. That hurts him in these rankings, since his teammates have all performed at a high level.
Even though the Warriors love small ball, Bogut's presence is necessary. Golden State can't have Draymond Green guarding centers for 48 minutes, and Bogut's passing and rim protection add a crucial element to the team.
Iguodala has started the season where he left off in the NBA Finals, showing no signs of decline, despite being past his athletic prime. He remains the all-around bench ace for Golden State, filling multiple functions on a nightly basis.
Iguodala is shooting a career-best 45 percent from deep. He started last season on fire as well and might cool down, but it's a testament to how well the veteran has performed.
5. Festus Ezeli
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Festus Ezeli has started more games than Bogut. His development has been huge for the Warriors, and the team might have found its long-term starting center for years to come.
Ezeli has been phenomenal. He is significantly more athletic than Bogut, rolls harder to the rim and has improved his touch. He can catch the ball on the move now and finishes with conviction. The Warriors create a ton of offense in transition, and Ezeli is sometimes the first man down the court off a defensive rebound.
Ezeli was projected to be a backup big playing around 10 minutes per game. He has completely outperformed those expectations, and he'll play big minutes on most nights. He is no longer insurance for a Bogut injury but arguably an even more valuable piece in Golden State's rotation.
Since the Warriors are so dominant in their wins, they sacrifice a couple of possessions every game by dumping the ball to Ezeli in the post and having him go to work. The results have been mixed at best, but Golden State is obviously curious if it can polish the young center offensively.
4. Klay Thompson
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Klay Thompson should be second on this list in due time, but he hasn't quite reached his peak 15 games into the season. Some of it can be attributed to him dealing with a back injury.
Klay's numbers are down across the board. He is putting up 16.6 points per game, over five points less than he did last season. His jumper hasn't looked as smooth early in the year, as his ability to create space has been temporarily impaired.
Over the last couple of games, Thompson seems to have gotten over most of his issues. He appears to have regained the spring in his step, which helps him curl around screens for pull-up jumpers more effectively. That is also reflected in his recent stats, as he is shooting 56 percent from deep in his last three games.
Thompson was the second-best Warrior last season, but the slow start shouldn't be worrying. Golden State keeps rolling, and it's encouraging to see his teammates stepping up while he rounds back into shape.
3. Harrison Barnes
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While Thompson has been slumping, Harrison Barnes has picked up the slack. He is putting up a career-best 14.2 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field.
Barnes' minutes are up, which was to be expected. He is in a contract year and has been itching to break out. He looks more comfortable than ever in the offense, which takes some pressure off the Warriors' alternative threats.
Barnes' career has been a little bit of a roller-coaster ride. He was relegated to the bench after starting as a rookie. Head coach Steve Kerr then decided to reinsert him with the starters when he took over the team. Now that Barnes has proven himself, he has the attention and appreciation of all his teammates. Iguodala had the following to say about Barnes' journey, per CSN Bay Area:
"He’s always been a focused player. And coming from where he’s come from, it’s a difficult adjustment – being the man, then kind of taking a step back then they want you take a step forward. He’s handled it like a professional. He’s always kept himself ready.
Contract year, so we’re going to continue to help him get as much as possible. He’s a hard-worker, so it’s going to happen for hard workers.
"
Golden State is as much about the show as it is about winning. Curry and Thompson provide a ton of entertainment, but Barnes regularly displays his athleticism and makes some incredible individual plays. He already has a fierce poster dunk and a funky trick shot to his name this season.
He should continue to get more touches this season. He may slide down a spot or two in the Warriors' internal rankings when Thompson shakes off the rust, but Barnes is an essential cog.
2. Draymond Green
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Name a skill conceivably possessed by a power forward, and Draymond Green probably has it. He has been the basketball equivalent of a Swiss Army knife for Golden State this season, contributing to virtually every aspect of the team's early success.
It's incredibly rare for a player who can't create his own looks on offense to be considered among the best players in the NBA. Yet Green has a compelling case, and he is at least top-25.
The scoring numbers won't blow anyone's mind, but a stat line of 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game is terrific and summarizes his versatility. He benefits greatly from the system around him, but throw Green onto any NBA roster and he will instantly make it better.
He provides the Warriors with the invaluable versatility of putting five shooters on the floor without sacrificing anything defensively. Despite his lack of hops, Green has shown an ability to protect the rim, and he can hold his own against practically any matchup one-on-one.
Green's passing ability is an essential key in Golden State's offense. He always finds the open man when driving to the basket or running the break. He can knock down threes, has a soft touch around the rim and forms a lethal pick-and-roll duo with Curry.
Green has been the second-most important Warrior this season, and he deserves a huge chunk of the credit for the incredible streak the Dubs are on.
1. Stephen Curry
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Curry has been the best player in the league this season, and it's not even close.
It's arguable that LeBron James can still reach a higher ceiling of overall impact in a big playoff game, but even he can't match what Curry has done so far.
It would be natural for Steph's numbers to drop a bit as the year goes on, simply because no one has ever accomplished what Curry is doing in the statistical department.
He is putting up 32.7 points, 5.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game; only five players in the history of the NBA have averaged a 32-5-5 stat line over a season, per Basketball Reference. Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Tracy McGrady, Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant are the names on that list.
Curry has a true shooting percentage of 68.2 percent, by far the highest out of the group. Sprinkle in the 4.9 three-point makes per game, and that filters out anyone but Golden State's superstar.
Not only has Curry's excellent play led to 15 straight victories, but he is also must-see TV. He will astonish any basketball fan at least a couple of times every game with audacious, borderline impossible plays. He is a special player, and he is making history every day he steps on the court.
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