So, are these Dubs for actual?
We would know the reply to that earlier than we all know who the following president of the US will probably be.
The Warriors are enjoying glorious basketball and are 6-1 on the season. It’s no fluke—the Dubs are the second-best defensive crew within the NBA, forcing 17 turnovers a sport. These stops have helped create transition offense alternatives that permit the crew to play at a quicker tempo and put up greater than 90 photographs a sport.
However earlier than all of us begin placing holds on our calendars so we are able to watch Warriors basketball in Could and June, it ought to be famous that the Dubs have performed unquestionably the best schedule within the league to this point.
All of the credit score on this planet for benefiting from the chance — that was something however simple, contemplating Steph Curry simply missed three video games with a twisted ankle. That stated, who’ve the Warriors overwhelmed? Any good groups?
I haven’t seen one but. Sorry, Houston.
That modifications beginning Wednesday, which begins a three-game highway stretch in opposition to the NBA’s three greatest groups this season: the Celtics, the undefeated Cavs, and the crew to beat within the West, the Thunder.
I received’t say that an NBA sport in November is vital. It’s far too early for that type of discuss.
So how about this: This troika, which begins with a nationwide TV showdown between the Warriors and the defending champions, will probably be… illuminating.
Let’s give attention to the primary sport of the three: The Celtics have carried the momentum of their title into the 2024-25 season, beginning with a 7-1 file, albeit in opposition to a slate of opponents that’s arguably as unimpressive because the Warriors’.
However the Celtics don’t have anything to show. Alternatively, the Warriors have every part to show coming off a season the place they had been the final crew to make the postseason within the Western Convention and had been run off the courtroom within the play-in event. And that was earlier than an on-the-fly offseason makeover following Klay Thompson’s exit to Dallas.
We don’t but know what the Dubs are.
A win on Wednesday, on the website the place the Warriors received the 2022 NBA title, would inform us a complete lot.
Even enjoying the Celtics shut would say one thing about the way forward for this season’s Warriors — that they’re able to be greater than feisty in a loaded Western Convention.
All of that’s simpler stated than achieved.
To not attempt to recreate historical past, however the Warriors received the title in opposition to a youthful, greener Celtics crew as a result of Steph Curry ascended to a better airplane of basketball existence, and Andrew Wiggins — an All-Star starter that season — performed at that stage.
That method must be current on Wednesday, on condition that Jayson Tatum — whom Warriors coach Steve Kerr famously benched within the Olympics this summer time — is enjoying just like the league’s MVP, and the Celtics added arguably the best perimeter defender within the league, Jrue Vacation, since these two groups confronted off on the most important stage within the sport.
However whereas the Warriors are betting on Wiggins to have a giant season (what else can they do?), betting on a wild card normally doesn’t work out. And whereas Curry seemed good in his return to the courtroom in opposition to the Wizards on Monday, You don’t want me to inform you why that may not be an ideal barometer for Wednesday.
In fact, the Warriors even have Power In Numbers Redux this season. Rocking a 12-, typically 13-man rotation, Kerr is eager to maintain recent legs on the ground. This roster’s excessive expertise ground stage is meant to make up for the general low ceiling.
However the Celtics aren’t precisely skinny. Yearly, basic supervisor Brad Stevens finds one other crew’s cast-off to show right into a stable rotation participant to spherical out the Celtics’ always-potent second unit.
This yr, that participant Neemias Queta, who — fast apart — I as soon as noticed work James Wiseman over in a G League sport in Stockton.
So whereas the Warriors may need the perfect bench within the NBA this season — first in internet ranking, per NBA.com stats — the Celtics are at No. 7, with the perfect beginning unit within the league. (The Warriors verify in at No. 3 there, regardless of a always rotating beginning lineup.)
Unusually, should you had been to take away pretense and simply go off what we’ve seen this season, the Warriors and Celtics ought to be a reasonably even matchup.
In fact, that’s not how any of this works.
If the Warriors lose on Wednesday, the bubble round this crew will burst. But when they’ll play the Celtics even — and even win — it’s an invite to begin believing that this yr received’t be just like the final two.
Till Friday, that’s. Then the method begins once more.
So, are these Dubs for actual?
Ask me on Sunday evening.
Initially Revealed: November 5, 2024 at 2:40 PM PST
