The Golden State Warriors’ record is 9-8 — that ain’t too great.
But you know what is? Their schedule for the remainder of the season.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Grant Liffmann, Golden State has the NBA’s easiest schedule moving forward, after facing the league’s toughest slate through 17 games.
So that 9-8 record is much better than it appears. Especially considering the Warriors have an abundance of new pieces on the team surrounding veteran stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Furthermore, Golden State’s starting five was a league-worst minus-73 in point differential before Monday’s win against the Timberwolves. Coach Steve Kerr switched the starting lineup, leading to his team’s blowout victory.
All of the Warriors’ goals are in front of them now: they’ve began to build an identity, though that is still a bit of a work in progress. But moving rookie center James Wiseman to the bench in favor of veteran Kevon Looney has placed the obvious emphasis back on winning now, not that that was never the plan.
Wiseman is still a young monster, and he’ll contribute a large amount, I’d wager. He’ll watch Looney and realize how important defense is to coach Kerr.
But whatever the season holds, the worst of the schedule is behind Golden State. That doesn’t mean their life will be easy, however, staring on Wednesday night when they face the Timberwolves yet again, as Minnesota is sure to make some adjustments in the baseball-style two-game series.
(Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)
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