Lee, Curry and the rising Warriors

GSW: You didn’t see them coming, did you?

There have been more than a few surprises in the league so far this season – surprises that few fans and analysts could’ve truly predicted. The Knicks, Clippers, Rockets, and Timberwolves (despite injury struggles) are defying expectations, while the Celtics and the Lakers are both struggling to find any rhythm in the season, especially considering the heightened expectations for the latter.

Yet, few – if any – could’ve forecast that, a little over 40 percent of the way through the season, the Golden State Warriors would find themselves holding on to the fifth seed in the West with an impressive 22-12 record. Even without the defensive presence of Andrew Bogut, the Warriors could be looking at their first play-off appearance since 2007, only their second play-off appearance since 1995, and perhaps their highest finish in the West in 20 years!

In the NBA, a host of teams boast of stacking a good roster on paper, but without the right coaching, chemistry, and defensive attitude, ‘paper warriors’ rarely translate on court. Led by David Lee and Stephen Curry – two lesser-known names vying for an All-Star spot this season – the Warriors have been able to transform a roster that sounds well-rounded on paper to one that is finally performing well on court.

As Bill Simmons noted last year and DarthSid commented on just a month ago, the Warriors have a history more troubled than most. Through bad drafts, bad trades, bad coaching, bad performances and bad luck, the Warriors have wasted away decent talent on bad seasons. But this year, under the tutelage of Mark Jackson – a man who didn’t have a shred of NBA coaching experience until a year ago – they are turning it around and giving their troubled but loyal fan base some reason for hope.

Few may remember this, but as a life-long Knicks fan, I certainly do: David Lee was once an All-Star. As a matter of fact, he was an All-Star just three years ago, when he averaged 20.2 ppg and 11.7 rpg for the struggling Knicks. But playing for a bad team under the guidance of an all-offensive coach like Mike D’Antoni, his feat was waved off as someone who was the product of a system, where no one else was good enough to be it.

In his five seasons of hustle, hard-work, and big numbers in New York, Lee became a fan favourite. In typical Knick-fashion, New York let him go to Golden State the same year as his All Star appearance, and used the money to sign Amar’e Stoudemire.

Lee continued to do what he does best in the Bay Area: get stats. But it wasn’t until this year that those stats began to translate into victories. One of the only players in the league averaging close to 20-10 this season (he’s at 19.7 ppg and 10.9 rpg), Lee – a few months short of his 30th birthday – has become a mature presence capable of dominating the block on most nights. He has proven to the league that he is more than a product of the D’Antoni run-n-gun system, and could well make his second All Star appearance next month.

Lee has come a long way.

If Lee dominates the inside, complementing him perfectly from the perimeter is sharp-shooting young guard Stephen Curry. There was no question about Curry’s potential when he joined the league, but sharing the back court with a-little-too-similar Monta Ellis, and a slew of injury-related absences halted his progress after a promising first two seasons. This season, healthy as ever and playing as the primary decision-maker for his squad, Curry has been on fire to average a career-high 20.2 points per game and a career-high 6.4 assists per game.

Still only 24, Curry is mentored by an All-Time great point guard in Mark Jackson, who is helping the volume scorer become a better quarterback for his side without losing any of his offensive explosiveness. He has played and started every game for the Warriors this season, and with Lee, could make it a Golden State tag-team off the Western Conference bench in the All Star Game.

Around these two talents is a solid group of guys who are filling in their roles perfectly for Jackson’s team. Curry’s back court mate Klay Thompson is another sweet-shooting guard who has helped this team become a threat from the perimeter. Overshadowed by Curry and Lee’s play is the fact that the second-year Thompson is also averaging nearly 16 points per contest.

A strong bench mob makes Golden State’s second-string one of the most impressive in the league, led by 6th Man of the Year candidates Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, two players who mimic the inside-outside combo of Curry and Lee from off the bench.

Another exciting young addition to this squad is rookie Harrison Barnes, the former North Carolina stand out, who enters the league as one of the most dangerous young scorers in the league. Barnes has a bright future ahead of him, and the 6-8 small forward is already earning big minutes as a starter for a successful squad.

Golden State’s biggest improvement this year has perhaps been in the rebounding section; and the efforts of everyone from Lee, Landry, Barnes, and even Curry have ensured that the team out-rebounds opponents on a regular basis. They have beaten top teams on a regular basis, and are now considered a genuine threat amongst squads around the league.

Jackson has been credited to help change the culture in this team, who now carry themselves as winners. He complimented them back recently for the hard work that they have put in to improve: “If I go into the gym before practice, I got a gym full of guys,” he said, “After practice, I’ve also got a gym full of guys. I can be at the facility at 9 p.m. and guys are coming in, watching film, getting shots up. It’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Yet, despite the optimism and the encouraging start, questions remain. Although Golden State have improved defensively, they are still not an elite defensive squad. On too many nights, opponents have exploited their weaknesses in guarding the paint to get easy points. This may not seem as their biggest concern at this point, but their defensive fragilities could be truly exposed in the post-season.

That’s where Andrew Bogut comes in.

Out with an ankle injury, Bogut’s return could make this good team even better and solidify them as a post-season threat. If he can return to the form that made him one of the best post defenders in the league in Milwaukee, the 7-footer will be a perfect fit for this squad. Bogut is also capable of commanding the boards and averaging a double-double at his best, and the former number one pick will slide into the Warriors’ starting Center position (currently occupied by Festus Ezeli) upon his return.

Stephen Curry #30 and David Lee #10 could use Bogut’s help on the defensive front.

How well the Warriors actually do for the rest of this season, especially after Bogut’s return, is once again a matter of ‘paper theorising’. They continue to look good on paper, and will look even better with Bogut joining Lee, Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Jack, and Landry in the line-up. But for this team to continue this promising start and end years of agony, Lee and Curry will have to continue playing at the All Star Level, the supporting crew will have to continue chipping in as they do, Bogut will have to fill in all the holes when he returns, and Jackson will have to continue performing miracles as their Head Coach.

And then, perhaps, their fans can believe again.