The Dubs 2015-16: chasing history

[nattysez]

Things can change radically during the long season, but the GSWs are the #1 story of the early season.

The current situation:

The Warriors break the record for most wins to start a season at 16 with a win against the Lakers on Tuesday.

This would also put them almost halfway to the NBA record for consecutive wins (33).

Steph Curry is currently on pace to hit over 400 threes this year. The record (his record, set last year) is 286.

The "Lineup of Death" (Curry-Thompson-Iguodala-Barnes-Green) is currently at 200 points scored in 56 minutes played this season.

Curry only played 27.5 minutes last night, which I believe is the first time he took the fourth quarter entirely off this season. Tomorrow night should be more of the same given how the Lakers have looked thus far.

All indications are that the team really wants the consecutive-wins-to-start-a-season record. Once they get it, we'll see whether they then try to use 33-in-a-row as motivation. I expect that after Tuesday, Walton may be asked to take his foot off the gas (i.e., give the starters fewer minutes) more often, even if it means losing some games.

 

[Kliq]

This thread already exists, it is called "2015-2016 NBA Game Thread."

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

BBTL has like 7 different threads for teams...why not The Dubs here?

 

[jon abbey]

Yeah, this is absolutely fine, the defending champs who are on a historic pace this season certainly deserve their own thread.

Please leave the modding to the Mods (now Dopes on this new board), thanks.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Don't mind Kliq - he hates all things Golden State with a passion that is so deep that its actually admirable.

Back on topic, one of the more amazing things about this run is that its being done with a rookie head coach leading the way. Of course he is receiving input from Kerr and the rest of the staff but the in game calls are generally all on Luke Walton. He is almost certainly going to be a head coach elsewhere (unless Kerr takes a step back after this season which is my own completely unfounded speculation).

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Who knew I'd pop into this thread?

Hey, even Bill Simmons fully admits to masturbating about Curry and the Warriors in his most recent podcast.

Also, in the spirit of the holiday season: Ethan Strauss's piece today on the Joy of Warriors choked me up a little. At the risk of making ElUno and Kliq lose their lunches, there are days when Curry and these Ws actually affirm my faith in humanity. Chris Hayes, noted MSNBC lefty (and an NYC-based Bulls fan) tweeted my late 2015 feelings perfectly: "The Warriors are a beacon of light in a dark, dark world."

Chance to break the record tomorrow in Oakland against ... the Lakers. Who is writing this insane script and how do I thank him/her/it?

 

[Kliq]

It was a joke guys

 

[Sam Ray Not]

It was a joke guys

FWIW, I thought it was a very funny line, and didn't take it as "modding" at all.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Don't mind Kliq - he hates all things Golden State with a passion that is so deep that its actually admirable.

Back on topic, one of the more amazing things about this run is that its being done with a rookie head coach leading the way. Of course he is receiving input from Kerr and the rest of the staff but the in game calls are generally all on Luke Walton. He is almost certainly going to be a head coach elsewhere (unless Kerr takes a step back after this season which is my own completely unfounded speculation).

Walton is "leading the way?" Or is he "getting out of the way?"

He seems to have a very good mind for the game as he was always a heady player and appears in control of the team which isn't difficult in good times but the most overrated coaches are those who succeed due to having great players executing while they are on the sidelines. Tex Winter's Triangle was awesome when Jordan and Kobe were running it.....not so much when it's Langston Galloway. Alvin Gentry is on his 4th Head Coaching job for the only reason because Stephen Curry was running "his" offense. Shit, Curry could run your offense or my offense and we'd look like studs.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Fun stat of the day:

Andy Bailey @AndrewDBailey
There’s been 774 individual seasons in which a player averaged 16 FGA. Kobe Bryant’s 2015-16 TS% ranks 774th. Curry’s ’15-16 TS% ranks 1st.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Walton is "leading the way?" Or is he "getting out of the way?"

He seems to have a very good mind for the game as he was always a heady player and appears in control of the team which isn't difficult in good times but the most overrated coaches are those who succeed due to having great players executing while they are on the sidelines. Tex Winter's Triangle was awesome when Jordan and Kobe were running it.....not so much when it's Langston Galloway. Alvin Gentry is on his 4th Head Coaching job for the only reason because Stephen Curry was running "his" offense. Shit, Curry could run your offense or my offense and we'd look like studs.

I'd add that ultra high hoops IQ vets like Iguodala, Draymond, Bogut, and Livingston are basically assistant coaches for the Ws on and off the floor. I think Iguodala in particular is in many ways the "fourth coach" in the Lute Olson / U Arizona braintrust along with Kerr, Fraser and Walton. Kerr and Walton talk constantly about how instrumental his braininess is to what the team does. So far this season (small sample alert) Andre is leading the team in raw plus-minus, while also putting up .625 ts (.465 from 3), along with 5.2 assists and 1.4 turnovers per 36.

 

[nattysez]

It looks like they're not going to go for 33.

Marcus Thompson

Luke Walton said he about to start resting players

 

[SoxFanInCali]

It looks like they're not going to go for 33.

Well, he got to rest people tonight. All 13 guys played, and 11 of them played at least 12 minutes.

If the Warriors had gone scoreless in the 4th quarter, they still would have beat the Lakers by 12.

Kobe had 4 points on 1-14 shooting.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

It looks like they're not going to go for 33.

They have been resting starters all year thus far between their depth and 4th quarter garbage time. Strange comment by Walton.

 

[coremiller]

All the 33 talk is incredibly premature. 8 of their next 9 are on the road, including a long Eastern trip where they have 5 games in 8 days, including 2 back-to-backs. It's likely they lose at least once and maybe more in there just due to the schedule. If they come of out of that sequence undefeated, that would put them at 25-0 -- then we can start talking about 33.

OTOH, 73 wins is definitely in play. I think it's only a question of a) staying healthy, and b) whether they want it, or if they'll take the foot off the gas in the last 30 games if they start 45-5 or something like that.

 

[ifmanis5]

So, is Luke Walton going to get Coach of the Year or Kerr? How does this work?

 

[HomeRunBaker]

So, is Luke Walton going to get Coach of the Year or Kerr? How does this work?

As it currently stands all of these wins are going to Kerr's "official" coaching record and not Luke. It was announced at the beginning of the season that this could change if it was an extended stint. It looks like there could be some very good non-Warrior candidates with Rick Carlisle or Frank Vogel. The COY has a history of not always going to the coach of the best team......Doc won his in Orlando and the Magic didn't even make the playoffs that year.

 

[ifmanis5]

As it currently stands all of these wins are going to Kerr's "official" coaching record and not Luke. It was announced at the beginning of the season that this could change if it was an extended stint. It looks like there could be some very good non-Warrior candidates with Rick Carlisle or Frank Vogel. The COY has a history of not always going to the coach of the best team......Doc won his in Orlando and the Magic didn't even make the playoffs that year.

That's for sure. However, if this Dubs team wins 70+ games Kerr or Walton or both will win it. Phil Jackson did so with his Bulls 72 win team and Riley got it with the Lakers once. The media loves to bandwagon on epic teams and we're looking at that now.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Warriors have now lucked into a 100-20 record (incl. playoffs) in the Kerr era.

 

[thehitcat]

It would be so Sacramento to show up tonight (as they did at home) and put a stop to the streak. No reason for it just feeling that this is the kind of game Rondo lives for (minus the national coverage.)

Edit: I hope I'm wrong and they keep it going, this team is fun to watch.

Edit2: So nope [emoji1]

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

It would be so Sacramento to show up tonight (as they did at home) and put a stop to the streak. No reason for it just feeling that this is the kind of game Rondo lives for (minus the national coverage.)

Edit: I hope I'm wrong and they keep it going, this team is fun to watch.

That Rondo died somewhere after the 2013-14 season. The streak lives on, even with Luke Walton giving the league a crotch chop by starting an end of the bench Brandon Rush in place of an injured Harrison Barnes. Rush then goes out and hits four of five from deep to be the second highest scorer after Curry's 19.

I wonder when he tries to start a game with a bench lineup?

 

[snowmanny]

There has only been one other major sports team in the last 100+ years to start a season 18-0, including playoffs.

 

[nattysez]

I was worried about Curry playing too much earlier in the year, but he's now skipped four fourth quarters in a row. Keep this in mind when people try to use scoring average to judge him.

Warriors now have a two-week, 7-game roadie, with the toughest games likely being the first (@Utah) and @Pacers, though the Celtics often give them a good game as well.

The streak lives on, even with Luke Walton giving the league a crotch chop by starting an end of the bench Brandon Rush in place of an injured Harrison Barnes. Rush then goes out and hits four of five from deep to be the second highest scorer after Curry's 19.

I wonder when he tries to start a game with a bench lineup?

Apparently Iguodala is seen as the captain of the second unit, so they want him to continue to come off the bench and have Rush start. They did this earlier in the year when Klay was hurt as well.

 

[DukeSox]

 

[Kliq]

Curry broke the record last season for most threes in a season with 286. He is on pace for 402 this season. He is attempting over 11 threes a game and shooting 10 percent above the league average.

 

[coremiller]

Curry broke the record last season for most threes in a season with 286. He is on pace for 402 this season. He is attempting over 11 threes a game and shooting 10 percent above the league average.

Some fun with Curry stats ...

He's upped his attempts this year from 8.1 per game to 11.1 while his 3P% remained basically the same (.443 vs. .445).

He's also increased his his 2-point attempts from 8.7 to 9.2, and is drawing more fouls (his free throw attempts are up from 4.3 to 6.2), while his 2-point FG% has gone up from .528 to .592. The net result is that he's taking about four more shots per game with a TS% that has gone from .638 to .686.

Because he's shooting a lot more, his assists are down a little (from 7.7 to 6.0). His usage is up from 28.9 to 33.2.

 

[Drocca]

Tonight's game against Charlotte should be pretty fun. Charlotte has been playing hard and probably a bit better than they should and could give them a game.

Meanwhile, right now there is nothing in sports as fun as watching Golden State play offensive basketball.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Curry just dropped 28 in a quarter.

40 points on 18 shots.

Ho-hum.

 

[coremiller]

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Curry now averaging 33.6 pts per 36 on 70.0% true shooting ... on the season. We're now 20 games in.

Warriors 20-0.

This 6'-3" kid who no Division 1 NCAA team wanted is completely breaking the sport.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

That Rondo died somewhere after the 2013-14 season. The streak lives on, even with Luke Walton giving the league a crotch chop by starting an end of the bench Brandon Rush in place of an injured Harrison Barnes. Rush then goes out and hits four of five from deep to be the second highest scorer after Curry's 19.

I wonder when he tries to start a game with a bench lineup?

Have you watched Rondo lately?

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Oh, and he manned up Kemba Walker, who has been killing it this season (19.3 pts per 36 on .567 ts), and held him to 4 points on 2-16 fg.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Have you watched Rondo lately?

No, not much but the numbers show he is scoring better but playing some of the worst defense of his career. Given that he made his bones in the league as a strong defender (as well as a great ball handler) my point stands.

Whether it was his injury a few years ago or simply age, the old Rondo who might be able to slow Steph Curry ain't walking through that door.

In other news, the Warriors are probably best served by finally losing as it will give Walton an excuse to rest his regulars even more. And if the loss happens, its likely to be this Saturday in Toronto (The Six), Sunday in BKNY or Tuesday in Indiana.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

Id say he made his defensive bones with all world defender Kevin Garnett having his back, but I will agree his d has slipped some since. Offensively he has been a tour de force the past 3 weeks and I hope he brings it against the Celtics tomorrow night. It's a joy to watch when he's on, regardless of his laundry.

 

[LondonSox]

I was just looking around for some advanced stats etc on Steph and I found this and I was like wait the top 5 offensive rating guys are ALL warriors? Plus 4 of the top5 for NET rating are warriors. I mean that's crazy

http://stats.nba.com/#!?StatType=Advanced

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Can someone dumb down what exactly a "True Shot" is?

 

[coremiller]

Can someone dumb down what exactly a "True Shot" is?

FGA + 0.44 * FTA. The difference from FGA is that includes shooting possessions that end in free throws.

 

[chilidawg]

No, not much but the numbers show he is scoring better but playing some of the worst defense of his career. Given that he made his bones in the league as a strong defender (as well as a great ball handler) my point stands.

Whether it was his injury a few years ago or simply age, the old Rondo who might be able to slow Steph Curry ain't walking through that door.

In other news, the Warriors are probably best served by finally losing as it will give Walton an excuse to rest his regulars even more. And if the loss happens, its likely to be this Saturday in Toronto (The Six), Sunday in BKNY or Tuesday in Indiana.

What numbers are you seeing about his defense? His DRPM puts him 4th overall among point guards, and his DBPM is better than any of the Sacto regulars other than WCS. I haven't seen them play, but numbers suggest good defense.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

FGA + 0.44 * FTA. The difference from FGA is that includes shooting possessions that end in free throws.

Thank you.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

What numbers are you seeing about his defense? His DRPM puts him 4th overall among point guards, and his DBPM is better than any of the Sacto regulars other than WCS. I haven't seen them play, but numbers suggest good defense.

I looked at his current DBPM and DRTG vs his career stats.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Next 5 games for GS: at Toronto/at Brooklyn back to back Sat/Sun, at Indiana Tuesday, back-to-back at Boston Friday/at Milwaukee Saturday.

Does anybody see a loss in here?

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Next 5 games for GS: at Toronto/at Brooklyn back to back Sat/Sun, at Indiana Tuesday, back-to-back at Boston Friday/at Milwaukee Saturday.

Does anybody see a loss in here?

As I said upthread, Toronto, Brooklyn (because of the back to back nature of the game and the fact that they played them really tough at Oracle) and Indiana are all legitimate loss candidates. Hell Milwaukee and Boston are there too. I am guessing they lose two of these upcoming games.

 

[ElUno20]

But look what it's come to, people are trying to see where this team will lose 1 game. How in the hell are they going to lose 11?

Scottie Pippen should give Mercury Morris a call and see if he has any voodoo or spells he can let him borrow.

 

[oumbi]

FGA + 0.44 * FTA. The difference from FGA is that includes shooting possessions that end in free throws.

Okay, but now please help me out. Why is this a valuable statistic? That is, what does it tell us that is important and new about a player's shooting?

 

[bowiac]

It just lets you know how many points someone averages per shot. FG% misses the impact of threes and free throws. TS% corrects for this.

 

[Blacken]

As I said upthread, Toronto, Brooklyn (because of the back to back nature of the game and the fact that they played them really tough at Oracle) and Indiana are all legitimate loss candidates. Hell Milwaukee and Boston are there too. I am guessing they lose two of these upcoming games.

I never expected you to be a reverse-jinxer.

 

[jon abbey]

Even GS can lose any game, especially on the road. They almost lost to the Nets at home, they needed a three with 6 seconds left to send it to OT.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

Id say he made his defensive bones with all world defender Kevin Garnett having his back, but I will agree his d has slipped some since. Offensively he has been a tour de force the past 3 weeks and I hope he brings it against the Celtics tomorrow night. It's a joy to watch when he's on, regardless of his laundry.

I was watching pack v lions, by the time I turned on the Celtics game Rondo had already been tossed. Thanks for making me look like a tool Rajon...

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Have you watched Rondo lately?

Yes......you'd be hard pressed to find a player to give Kemba less defensive resistance as he lit Rajon up for 39 including 18 in the 4th quarter of the Hornets comeback win. At least he made up for that poorous effort against us in Mexico City.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

But look what it's come to, people are trying to see where this team will lose 1 game. How in the hell are they going to lose 11?

Scottie Pippen should give Mercury Morris a call and see if he has any voodoo or spells he can let him borrow.

They will likely be underdogs in Indiana.