The Golden State Warriors are good. Yes, the Golden State Warriors are very good.
The No. 1-ranked Warriors (63-13) are so good that when viewed from an historical lens, all-time marks in the annals of this great franchise become increasingly obsolete.
But make no mistake: We’re not talking solely about their accomplishments on offense. This isn’t the run-and-gun, defense-is-optional Warrior teams of old—ones that would pile up 130 points and lose because they allowed 145.
This current Dubs contingent under head coach Steve Kerr, on the other hand, leads the league in most major categories on both ends of the court and many places in between. That includes the part of the game where one team stops the other from scoring.
Let’s now provide some context and take a gander at those statistical rankings that place Golden State in the upper-most echelon of the NBA in 2014-15, per NBA.com.
The Warriors rank No. 1 in points scored per game (109.7), assists (27.4), field goal percentage (47.8), three-point percentage (39.7), effective field goal percentage (53.9), true shooting percentage (57.2) and possessions per 48 minutes of play (100.56). Add to that league-leading marks in points differential (plus-10.6), points off turnovers (19.7) and fast break points (20.7).
Translation: No team shoots, passes or controls the tempo with more proficiency, nor is more lethal in transition.
Clarification: While only one other team makes a higher percentage of its points via the three-pointer (29.2 percent), just six teams score more in the paint (44. 7 points). The Warriors kill the opposition from both inside and out.
The Dubs further lead the Association in opposing field goal percentage (42.2) and points allowed per 100 possessions (97.6). They also rank No. 2 in blocks per game (6.1), No. 3 in steals (9.4), No. 4 in defensive rebounds (34.3) and No. 5 in opposing three-point percentage (33.6).
Translation: No team is more efficient or comprehensively skilled on defense.
In clutch time, this Kerr-coached squad owns the second-best winning percentage at 73.1 (19-7). Golden State also rates No. 1 in steals (0.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5), No. 2 in free throw percentage (87.1) and three-point percentage allowed (21.6), No. 3 in defensive efficiency (94.6) and No. 5 in offensive efficiency (117.1).
Translation: When neither club is ahead by more than five points with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime, few teams are more clutch than Kerr’s, while only one other wins at a higher rate.
To be sure, the Warriors starting five of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut is one of the best in the NBA. That group includes, in order, an MVP candidate, the top two-way shooting guard, a top-seven shooter from distance at small forward, a power forward with the most defensive win shares and a center with the highest defensive rating.
Yet they’re also the deepest team.
Their bench unit comprised of Andre Iguodala, David Lee, Shaun Livingston, Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa and Festus Ezeli is an effective overall group. It ranks No. 1 with a 47.7 field goal percentage and No. 2 with 9.6 assists and 3.5 steals per game.
These stellar backups have also averaged 18.6 minutes per game, which has given the starters ample rest throughout the season (ninth-fewest minutes at 29.6).
OK, so how do these current Warriors rank in the history of this franchise?
Let’s just say only three other Dub squads were more efficient offensively and none allowed fewer points per 100 possessions since the advent of the three-point line during the 1979-80 season.
These Warriors also have one of the highest point differentials in NBA history and are on pace for the second-most wins all time if they emerge on top in their remaining six games. They would become only the third team to hit the 69-13 mark.
Oh, and with this latest victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Kerr, with help from his incredible assistants Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams, has become the most successful first-year head coach—ever.
Will Golden State put it all together under Kerr and secure its second Larry O’Brien Trophy—and first since 1974-75?
Outside of suddenly developing the abilities of foresight, only the gods of the hardwood can know that.
But championship or not, these Warriors will go down as one of the best teams that have ever played the game of professional basketball.
Not bad, boys. Not bad.
All stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball-Reference.com and HoopsStats.com.
Follow Joey on Twitter @jlevitt16 as he tries to wax eloquent on all things Warriors, NBA, NFL, MLB and the sports world at large.