That warriors second unit sucks.
Assuming you're talking about their most used non-Steph/KD unit — the "low octane" Klay/Dray/Andre/Shaun/DWest group that's been starting the 2nd and 4th quarters — I see that as a classic case of how deceiving the eye test is, particularly when it comes to judging defense. I used to scream at the TV every time Kerr trotted out that unit ... till I noticed they had the
best net rating of the Ws' most used five-man units (+19.3 points per 100 possessions), thanks to their killer defense. I mean, all units that don't include Steph tend to annoy me, since they never resemble the Warriors I know and love, but that one in particular has been really getting the job done, in its plodding, high IQ, defense-oriented way.
Last night that wasn't the case, alas — but you got to give a lot of credit for that to your Clips, who are deeper, younger, tougher and scrappier this year than they've been the last couple seasons. They came into the game having won 17 of their last 24, and last night took one Warrior haymaker after another and kept getting off the mat. Not convinced last year's Blake-CP3-Crawford-Pierce-Redick crew would have shown that much moxie. It took an epic performance by Steph (44 pts on 19 fga, partially helped by some horrible D by Austin Rivers, going under screen after screen) for the Ws to pull it out.
If the Clips slip off the playoff bubble, it'll be because the #3-10 in the West is brutally competitive, not for lack of talent and fight from them. And if they somehow end up in #1-8 first round series with Houston, I wouldn't be shocked to see them take it 7 (and maybe avenge the horrific 2015 debacle that effectively spelled the beginning of the end of their period of dominance?)