Well Golden State Warriors, wasn’t that just fun?
The NBA pride of the Bay Area recently completed a 10-game winning streak and 6-1 stretch away from home.
In the process, Golden State fell one win short of both a franchise record and another all-time league mark. It would have become the first team in the Association’s history to record a perfect 7-0 road trip.
Yet, what the Warriors accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. Their road streak will soon find its rightful place in the annals of this league’s 68-year existence.
But for the here and now, where does this place Golden State among NBA contenders?
Where does this team sit in the current league power rankings?
The Warriors returned to Oakland Thursday with a handsome 24-14 record. They occupy second place in the Pacific and No. 6 overall in the Western Conference.
Fostering their latest ascension were averages of 105 points per game, 92.8 allowed and a differential of 12.2 during their 10 consecutive wins.
Those totals would place the Warriors fifth, third and No. 1, respectively, in league standings. They otherwise rank a respectable eighth (103.4), 10th (98.4) and seventh (5.0) on the season.
Further impressive NBA marks include eighth in assists per game, sixth in field-goal percentage, fourth in field-goal percentage allowed and the third-highest rate from three-point range (38.8 percent) and in rebounds collected (46.4).
Point guard Stephen Curry leads this sharpshooting, defensively proficient club.
Curry ranks second in the league with 9.4 assists, fifth with 2.0 steals and eighth with 23.1 points. He sits top-two at his position with 17 double-doubles.
He and teammate David Lee both sport win-share aggregates of at least five as well.
The power forward himself has averaged a 19.0 PTS, 10.0 REB double-double, totaling the sixth most all told (21). Lee’s 53.4 shooting percentage and 80.7 percent from the line are the highest since joining the Warriors in 2010-2011.
Andre Iguodala plays lock-down defense at small forward, while shooting at the second-highest rate from three (47.6 percent). Shooting guard Klay Thompson and Curry occupy the second (115) and third (110) spots with total three-pointers made.
Andrew Bogut, for his part, rates fifth among centers and top-10 in the league with 10.2 rebounds per game. The defensive master in the paint also tallies the eighth-most blocks with 1.73 per contest (third-most at his position).
Oh, and despite a modest 8.1 PPG, Bogut rocks the NBA’s second-highest shooting percentage from the floor (62.8).
Overall, the Warriors’ starting-five averages 4.1 win shares and a 17.9 player efficiency rating.
Those notable totals contribute to this team’s league-best record of 19-4 with Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee and Bogut on the floor.
This lineup has vanquished the likes of Western playoff-contenders Phoenix Suns (7th), Los Angeles Clippers (4th) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2nd), not to mention the East’s third-place Atlanta Hawks and defending champion Miami Heat.
It’s abundantly clear that Golden State is unmatched when all starters are suited up on the hardwood. They shoot lights out, own the glass and shut down opposing scorers.
Of their minimal four losses, one came against the West-leading San Antonio Spurs, with another to the fourth-place Clippers all the way back on Oct. 31.
(The Warriors have since beaten LAC 105-103 on Christmas Day.)
And their most recent defeat to the Brooklyn Nets is certainly excusable, seeing as it arrived on the eve of a back-to-back, and final day of an otherwise flawless seven-game trip.
Excessive turnovers and a deficient bench notwithstanding, the Curry-Thompson-Iguodala-Lee-and-Bogut-led Warriors are worthy of a top-three grade after their double-digit win streak.
Only the Spurs (7-3; 28-8) and Indiana Pacers (8-2; 28-7) have been better both as of late and throughout the 2013-2014 season.
Here’s to a well-deserved 11 games in friendly confines for Golden State until the all-star break.
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