Warriors' surprising turnaround has changed everything about their present - and future
· Yahoo Sports
The Golden State Warriors are heading out on their first extended road trip of the season and they're packing a few items that no one would have expected just two weeks ago. An 8-3 record. And a slot in the top four in the Western Conference.
Yeah, it's early. Very early. The season is only 13% complete. There are many ups and downs, stories and challenges ahead. But after an 0-3 start that seemed to confirm the worst of the skeptics' scenarios, the Warriors have transformed into a team that has not only been fun to watch but is creating bright scenarios for the future.
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"We're doing all the things we need to convince ourselves we're the team we think we can be," Stephen Curry said recently.
What is the cause of this dramatic change in fortunes and vibe?
Is it the magic in the building, left over from the Valkyries' spectacular playoff run?
Possibly, and I'm not even kidding. Synergy between teams and coworkers is a real thing. Winning teams raise the bar for all the other franchises in their market: sibling teams definitely push each other even more. The Warriors were totally invested in the Valkyries' success, showing up at games, repping their gear, celebrating with them. And the Valkyries reminded the veteran Warriors of all the joy that comes with winning together.
Is it my provocative question to Curry on Warriors media day, when I asked him how it felt that some people don't expect them to even make the playoffs and he said "Damn!" and walked off the podium?
I am kidding about that moment, specifically. But, in general, the Warriors are a very proud group and they were well aware of the lowered expectations surrounding a team that was once only spoken of in terms of championship runs. Starting 0-3 made that negative noise louder.
"It's hard not to hear it," Curry said. "We try not to play into it. We hate losing."
Is the turnaround the result of something that initially looked demoralizing but could end up being a blessing in disguise? The unavailability of Kristaps Porzingis?
Porzingis never even got his season started, has since stepped away from basketball and the Warriors stopped paying his salary. The development has meant that Steve Kerr has gone with a lineup that allows rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to play power forward instead of small forward, a better fit, and also to play Draymond Green at center where he continues to play well. Not waiting around for the theoretical return of Porzingis also means the Warriors know exactly where they stand when February's trade deadline rolls around.
Or is this bounce in the Warriors' play due to just one factor? The new guy?
"Yax," Curry has said, more than once, when asked what's different. Lendeborg, the 11th pick in last June's draft, has been a revelation and has become an instant and integral part of the Bay Area sports landscape. His immediate impact has changed so many negative narratives around the Warriors, such as Kerr doesn't like rookies or general manager Mike Dunleavy doesn't know what he's doing.
And it only bodes well for the future.
"Our second best player is a rookie," Green said Saturday night. "He's only played 10 games."
The Warriors will face heightened competition on this long trip: They start with the Rockets and Spurs, currently two of the top five teams in the West, and also a revenge match against Memphis, which beat the Warriors in their home opener. When they come home Nov. 22, they host the Celtics, one of the top teams in the East.
The Warriors are still just getting started but there's a lot to like right now. The team feels like it's on a different trajectory. Curry is playing at superstar level, averaging 30.6 points a game, and (knock wood) doesn't seem to be hampered by his knee issues. The depth of the team allows Kerr to limit veteran minutes. Lendeborg is making non-Steph minutes survivable.
"My take is we're a very resilient team," Curry said.
The team entered Tuesday ranked second in offensive rating and 11th in defensive rating. On Monday Kerr said, "We have a chance to be, I think, a top-10 offense and defense. And that's what it takes to be a great team in this league, a real contender. And that's our goal."
Also important: the Warriors look like they're having fun again. They seem connected, energized and the chemistry is good. Jimmy Butler's amusing turn as an assistant coach on Monday, sitting on the bench in coaching gear, carrying a clipboard with the instruction "PASS TO STEPH" is one example.
The hope is for Butler to be back in about two months. The Warriors hope to be in a position to make a move at the trade deadline in early February. All of a sudden, not only does the Warriors' future look promising, the present is surprisingly bright.
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Warriors' surprising turnaround has changed everything about their present - and future.
