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Steve Kerr was honest going into the season, noting that the Warriors would likely look better a month or two into the season than they do on opening night.
Kerr was tempering expectations of a team that spent last season out of the limelight with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson injured. He wanted to let it be known that while many were excited for the Warriors to take center stage again, they were far from a finished product.
And yet back-to-back losses to the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks have caused every NBA tipster from the Bay in Bangor, Maine to proclaim the Warriors as a doormat of the Western Conference.
But true to Kerr’s prediction, nearly a month and 12 games later, the Warriors quickly get it.
The final step in the Golden State Dynasty’s reboot project came on Wednesday night when the Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center, just two nights after wiping out a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the champion in title Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think it was our best game,” Kerr told reporters after the win against Spurs. “Our best two-man basketball game we’ve played all year. Our defense was great, we put a lot of pressure on them, stayed really strong, rebounded well. Then at the other end, when you force miss the attack becomes much easier. “
Since those back-to-back losses at the start of the season, the Warriors’ defense has steadily improved, which was a key factor in the 8-4 streak.
“The first two games, I don’t even count them,” Kerr said. “We weren’t ready and we were a bit of a mess. Since that time our defense has improved. We still have a lot of work to do, but tonight I thought it was our best overall effort. the year. “
At 8-6, the Warriors are now fifth in the Western Conference and have played the second toughest schedule in the NBA at this point, behind only the Memphis Grizzlies.
With each game that passes, the Warriors determine the team they are meant to be. Curry and Draymond Green learn to act with a new supporting cast. The emotional process led to a few gruesome moments, but a light began to shine for the Warriors, who took victories over the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers early on.
Rookie center James Wiseman had a career night out in the win over Spurs and was able to respond after mediocre outings. After two putrid games to open the season, Andrew Wiggins has been the image of consistency. Kelly Oubre Jr. finally appears to be emerging from a terrible crisis, scoring 16 points on a 4-for-11 shot in the win over Spurs.
RELATED: Wiggins Silences All Skeptics With Warriors
The Warriors are in a good position 14 games in the 72 game season. They’ve had a tough time watching, but they’ve found their place and are well positioned to become a real threat in the Western Conference over the next 58 games.
While the win over the Lakers indicated the Warriors can beat anyone, it was the Spurs beat Wednesday night that showed Curry the Warriors growing.
“Tonight was a sign of maturity,” Curry said after the win. “We obviously didn’t play well in the first half of the Los Angeles game. To play well in the second half and then build on that momentum in tonight’s game – we always talk about good teams, we can show it from time in time, but when you work to be a great team, you have maintained excellence on both sides of the pitch.
Warriors discover who they are and gain confidence with each passing match. Imagine what they can become in the next 58 games.
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