24 Thoughts on the Warriors 24-game win streak

Here's the WarrirsWorld version.

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Golden State began the 2015-2016 season betting on personnel continuity and an added year of experience in head coach Steve Kerr’s quick-reaction, pass-heavy offense. While championship contenders like the Spurs spent the early season incorporating new players into an evolving offense and the Cavs struggled to find quality rotations in the wake of injuries, the Warriors were able to rely on a lineup featuring 12 players from their championship roster, including nine rotation regulars.

That familiarity paid off as Golden State dominated the first 30 percent of their schedule. Led by the slight-of-hand wizardry of Stephen Curry and buoyed by contributions from a deep and talented roster, the Warriors jumped out to an historic 24-0 record, drubbing opponents by an average of 13.6 points a night and making every game appointment TV in the process.

In recognition of the record 24 consecutive victories to start the season, here are 24 thoughts on the streak, the players and the Warriors going forward:

1. In a preseason forecast, a panel of ESPN contributors ranked Stephen Curry fifth for league MVP.
   After less than a week of regular season games, as he began his meteoric rise, the pervasive question became “Is Steph the best player in the NBA?” A couple of weeks after that, the narrative changed to “Curry is definitely the best player in the world.” Now Jason Kidd is calling Steph this generation’s Michael Jordan. Who knows where this conversation will be by season’s end. Curry has increased his scoring average by an astounding 9 points per game from his MVP season. His 33.7 PER would be the greatest of all time if the season ended today and he is set to break his own record of 286 made-threes in a season by 130. This is n0t MVP-level play- this is once-in-a-generation stuff. Just like there has never been another MJ or another Magic or another Kareem, there is not going to be another Stephen Curry. He is small, slightly built and relies more on skills than athleticism so it is easy to conclude that what he is doing is replicable, but I would argue it is more likely that another elite scoring 2-guard will enter the league before we see another offensive player that can terrify a defense as soon as he crosses half court. After all, we have seen a decent Jordan facsimile in Kobe Bryant, but who is Steph’s closest comp? Steve Nash? Damian Lillard? Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf? Steph’s repertoire of ball-handling, on-the-ball and off-the-ball shooting, floaters, drives, passing, and basketball IQ trumps everyone before or after him. Plus, he scores at an incredible volume efficiently and on a consistent basis. There have been accurate shooters, willing passers, deft ball handlers and MVP point guards before but no one has ever mastered all those skills and unleashed it on a nightly basis. Steph’s play is not a revolution in the game or a trend for the future; it will not be duplicated. He is in the rarefied air of a Tiger Woods at his peak. When it’s over, it’s over. There won't be seconds. Enjoy the Steph Curry Show while it lasts.
2. At one point during the 2014-15 season, there were as many as eight legitimate contenders for the NBA crown. The league this year is less balanced with the Warriors, Cavs and Spurs as prohibitive favorites and the Thunder lurking a tier below as Kevin Durant works through injuries. If Golden State can hang onto the top seed, they will likely only have to face two of the three to win another championship.
3. The Warriors can drop their next two games and still be on pace to match the ’96 Bulls with 72 wins.
4. There are preseason prognostications and then there is what Twitter Nostradamus @Nai_Roy had to say back in October.
5. There were five games during the streak that the Warriors could have lost and maybe should have lost: Overtime versus the Nets where Brooke Lopez missed a bunny in regulation. The next game when Kyle Lowry committed a costly illegal screen. The Clippers’ collapse. The Raptors again. And the 2 OT game in Boston that took every ounce of energy the Warriors had to win. Going 5-0 in those 50-50 games bodes well for the playoffs when execution becomes paramount.
6. Another way to look at that: In their first 24 games, the Warriors were only challenged five times.
7. The Dubs win so many games in part because their second unit wears down even the deepest teams. It functions like 48 minutes of continual drilling, eventually a fissure springs and the opponent cracks under the pressure. Off the bench, Festus Ezeli brings offensive rebounding, well-timed blocks and athletic rim-runs; Shaun Livingston provides a steadying hand and chips in points off turnaround jumpers and the occasional where-did-that-come-from two-handed jam; and Andre Iguodala’s heady play-making and always excellent defense is Luke Walton’s security blanket for when the Warriors face a scary few minutes of scattered play…
8. …but similar to last year, the bench lacks a consistent offensive punch. When Mo Buckets’ shot cannot find the net and Leandro Barbosa is not scoring on open threes or in transition, the subs struggle to maintain leads. It is a rich team’s problem to be sure but the Dubs could use reliable scoring from Speights, Jason Thompson, B-Rush or Ian Clark for 8 minutes a game when Curry and Green sit.
9. Which grew more over the first 25 games of the season, Festus Ezeli’s game or Festus Ezeli’s future bank account?
10. Is it time to start up the Bogut-Ezeli center controversy? Bogut is a skilled and savvy veteran but Ezeli’s athleticism creates a bigger target for the first team’s passers and his lobtastic synergy with Green forces one more worry onto opposing defenses. Throw in Bogut’s potential play-making on a less-than-potent second unit (as evidenced by the 2 points in 5 minutes during the Bucks game) and the same argument used to have Iguodala come off the bench could be asserted for Ezeli’s ascension into the starting unit.
11. The Death Lineup is not very deathly without Harrison Barnes. Livingston is a fine player but when he is the fifth man in the Green-at-center lineup, the court gets cloggy and the defense is more susceptible to low post scores by opposing bigs.
12. Players we saw during the streak that have improved their games: Avery Bradley, Brandon Knight, Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond, Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Favors, Paul George and Nicolas Batum.
13. Players we saw that might not be long for the NBA: Joe Johnson, Tony Allen (it pains me to include him but at 33-years-old and slipping on D, his offensive liability makes him almost unplayable against elite teams. The Warriors throwing Bogut on him in last year’s playoff might have killed his career), Steve Blake, Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson again.
14. Everyone goes full throttle against the Warriors. This was never more apparent than when OJ I-couldn’t-bother-to-stay-in-shape-last-year Mayo gave the Warriors 18 aggressive points and a spirited defensive effort. I’m not sure which surprised me more: OJ Mayo not being fat any more or OJ Mayo trying hard in 2015.
15. As of writing, the Warriors lead the league in assists by a mile at 28.6 per game. The difference between them and the Spurs in second is the same as the difference between second place and the Hornets in 15th. Most NBA players shoot better on the catch than they do trying to create one-on-one. The Warriors’ ability to ping the ball around the court helps the offense avoid long spells of poor shooting. This is another reason why Charles Barkley calling the Warriors a “jump-shooting team” was such a reductive conclusion. They are a passing, jump-shooting team with fantastic defense.
16. Asked when he realized the streak was over, Curry answered for Green saying, “when coach subbed us out” (of the Bucks game). That is when I reached the same conclusion. The 24-game streak made me forget that it is possible for the Warriors to lose. Like watching a zombie TV show, I just assumed our heroes would be able to survive any impending doom. Even down 11 with a minute left I thought they would pull it out. If Glen could survive a horde of hungry walkers, why couldn’t the Warriors outlast a few deer?
17. After finishing last season first in defensive efficiency, the Warriors have slipped to fifth place this year. I do not think the team has gotten worse on defense, rather the bench unit has dragged the numbers down in extended minutes during blowouts, HB’s injury has shelved the ferocious small-ball lineup and there were some tired legs on the long road trip. When needed, the Warriors can still flip the defensive switch for a few intense minutes of frenetic D, as they showed in the epic comeback versus the Clippers.
18. If you are hoping for another double-digit win-streak, the Warriors play OKC, San Antonio and Cleveland a combined nine times in the final 3+ months of the season.
19. Draymond said the Warriors stopped improving during the streak. Injuries, the interminable road trip, media hype, whatever the case, the 24-1 Warriors have at least one deficiency worth addressing: they are 24th in turnover ratio.
20. Watching this team has completely ruined my appetite for other NBA games. When I watch other teams, I spend half the time wondering, “Why doesn’t the point guard just pull up from 28 feet?” “How come this defense is so porous?” “Why doesn’t the bench jump out to celebrate at half-court?” The Warriors being the Kobe beef of basketball makes everything else taste like tofu.
21. Oh yeah, Steve Kerr is out. I almost forgot that the captain of the ship is still on leave.
22. Lost in all the Curry talk is that the Warriors are quietly becoming downright Spursian in the ability to develop young talent. They helped Klay, a late lottery pick, become an All-Star. Draymond has become a nightly triple-double threat and will likely make his first All-Star appearance. Festus has career highs in points, blocks and rebounds. And HB has blossomed into the ideal forward, able to toggle between the three and four positions in the modern NBA. Even with the salary cap about to skyrocket, it’s essential for the Warriors to supplement the roster with players on cheap contracts who develop into rotation cogs. If recent history is predictive of future success, James McAdoo and Kevon Looney should be contributing soon.
23. Meanwhile the Spurs have a historically good 12.2 point differential, the Cavs will get Kyrie Irving back soon and the Thunder has won 9 of 11.
24. Before the season, I bet a few buddies that the Warriors would repeat as champions and that Steph would take home another MVP trophy. 25 games into the season, my wager, like the streaking Warriors, looks like it can't lose.

Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 95, Bucks 108

The Golden State Warriors are not going to finish the season 82-0. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Dubs clearly looked fatigued as they missed shots short and ran the court like they needed a warm bath and a long nap. The usual intense burst of energy never materialized as the Warriors shot 40% from the field, 23% from threes and coughed up the ball 16 times. That said, give the Bucks credit. The franchise that stopped the Lakers’ win streak of 33 games in 1972 came out with tremendous effort and took this game. The Warriors now head home to Oakland with their first loss of the season but get a chance to sleep on a long flight, rest, and dream of more wins to come.

Here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1. Stephen Curry shot 2-8 from threes. Klay Thompson missed everything short. Bench players not named Festus Ezeli provided 10 points total. Andre Iguodala was 1-9 from the field. The frenetic small-ball lineup looked tiny and slow. The Warriors were clearly exhausted. After a double-OT game less than 24 hours before, and on the final game of a 7-game road trip, Golden State did not have anything in the tank for a final push. Greg Monroe, Jabari Parker, the Greak Freak and OJ Mayo gave the Dubs their best shot and forced the 13-point victory.
2. Klay’s flagrant-1 foul seemed to give the Warriors a bit of life in the third. The Dubs went from down 12 to down only three by the end of the quarter. However, to start the fourth, Luke Walton went with a lineup of Ezeli, Jason Thompson, Iguodala, Livingston and Barbosa. As you would expect, the unit could not score in the clogged half-court and managed only two points in five minutes. The game was effectively out of reach after that.
3. A 6-1 road trip and 24-1 overall record should not be disappointing even if this loss is. For some perspective: from 1997-2002, the Warriors did not win 24 games in an entire season a single time. Golden State went 97-281 those five seasons.
4. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Curry threw the ball full court to Draymond Green for a layup. More than for an easy score, I thought maybe Steph just did not want to run the floor.
5. You know the team is tired when even Draymond is gassed. He had a solid 24 points, 11 boards and 5 assists, but with 2:41 left in the game and the Warriors trying desperately to make a run, Monroe spun right shoulder for a layup and Dray never even moved except for a last-second reach-in foul.
6. Michael Carter-Williams had a strong game. He finished with 17 points, 5 assists and a game-high plus-22. After watching this game and remembering his promising rookie year, you would think his career is on its way up. But inexplicably he is coming off the bench and averaging only 10 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in 28 minutes a game, all career lows. What is going on here? Did Sam Hinkie know something we didn’t when he traded MCW? His Philadelphia squad might not be a real NBA basketball team but Hinkie continues to pull off great trades (the 76ers get the Lakers’ top-3 protected pick). MCW is only 24 years old and his coach is a former All-NBA point guard so there is time left.
7. Shaun Livingston guarding MCW was the NBA future that never happened. I used to love watching tall point guards like Magic, Penny and Jalen Rose passing over the top of regular-sized guards. In the late ’90s I thought we would see a slew of them enter the league. Never happened.
8. If you had to draft NBA jerseys, which team’s uni would come in second behind the Warriors Bay Bridge adorned perfection? Milwaukee’s home white is in the mix, right? The blue stripe just under the arm (a shout out to Wisconsin’s many bodies of water) takes the whole look up another level. In last place, I’m pretty sure the Clippers’ Nokia Snake Gamejerseys and the Hawks’ Exploded Highlighters effect would battle it out.
9. An entire Milwaukee section wore “24-1” t-shirts to the game. That’s how you trash talk the Warriors these days.
10. 82-0 is no longer a possibility but 81-1 is still alive. Go Dubs!

Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 124, Celtics 119

Golden State survived this game more than they won it. Double overtime. Short two starters. The sixth game of a seven game road trip. Against a well-coached, quality opponent  This game had all the makings of a forgettable loss but the Warriors, as they have all season, played like champs down the stretch and were able to pull out a victory in a fun, well-played game. The perfect season rolls on. Next stop: Milwaukee. And a chance for 25-0.

Here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1. Stephen Curry got 38 points but Boston’s defense got the better of him on this night. Steph was visibly frustrated- he stepped out of bounds three times, harkening back to terrible memories of Mickael Pietrus’ habitual line-stepping in the minds of all scarred Warriors fans. Avery Bradley and Evan Turner defended Curry one-on-one about as well as anyone has all season, hounding the MVP in to 9-27 shooting and a season high eight turnovers.  On Curry double teams, the Celtics were able to scramble and shut off Draymond Green passes for open shooters. Fantastic game plan by Brad Stevens.
2. Draymond Green is an All-Star. That much is obvious. But this game showed why Klay Thompson deserves consideration for the team as well. Without Klay’s gravity to pull defenders with him at all times, the Celtics had a much easier task of both doubling Curry and clogging the lane to thwart drives and lobs for dunks, a hallmark of the Warriors offense all season.
3. After Klay hurt his ankle, Shuan Livingston explained the injury saying, “that’s on the second unit. That was my fault. I take it personal.” Those were not empty platitudes. Livingston played like a man out for redemption. He had a season-high 35 minutes and threw up a 12/3/3 with two blocks including a superhero swat on an Isiah Thomas jumper that forced the first overtime.
4. Brad Stevens, with that boyish face and no neck tie, looks more like a cool high school English teacher than NBA coach. Maybe he’s a cool NBA coach: twice he could have called a time out to set up a final play in regulation and the first overtime but both times he elected to let his players freestyle the last shot. As much as I love basketball, I certainly do not need to sit through three more minutes of commercials.
5. In the second quarter, Bradley, who had been playing lights out (6-7 shooting for 15 points along with swarming D), drops back to the three-point line to wait for Curry on defense. For a split second, Bradley positioned himself like he would for any other guard in the league. Unfortunately for him, Curry is not any other guard and nails a 28-footer. Avery Bradley does not wait at the three-point line the rest of the game.
6. My buddies from Boston love Tommy Heinsohn. They realize he is a big time homer but he is their big time homer. Watching the Celtics’ telecast, the one time Heinsohn went silent was when the replay showed Curry picking up his fourth foul despite being nowhere near the play. I think Tommy’s silence is his way of admitting a poor call against an opponent. Kind of like the way my immigrant grandfather apologizes. No actual words, just silence.
7. Andrew Bogut got a charge call defending Isaiah Thomas. Thomas is 5’9″. I’m not a fan of former players calling today’s NBA soft but sometimes those old guys shaking their fists have a point.
8. In the first half, David Lee and Marreese Speights got time defending each other one-one-one. I am liberal in my use of the word “defended.” This was easily my favorite part of a two overtime game because anything could have happened in those few minutes [Editor’s Note– Besides defense, of course]. Both guys falling over on defense. Both guys somehow scoring on the same play. Sometimes it is nice see what basketball in the ’80s looked like.
9. After Lee threw the ball straight to Draymond on his first pass of the game and then followed that up by missing two consecutive shots, my buddy from Boston sent me this text, “Does DLee think he still plays for the Warriors? He’s killing us on D AND O.” It would seem Celtics fans are quick on the uptake.
10. Great players play great when their team needs it. Without Klay and Barnes tonight, Draymond knew he would have to score more. He dropped 24 points — 11 more than his average — along with 11 boards, 8 assists, and 10 combined blocks and steals. In a vacuum, Green may not be top-10 good as Jerry West asserts, but on this team, I cannot think of another forward that can do everything he can. Blake cannot defend like him. Leonard does not pass like him. AD maybe? Since basketball is not played in a vacuum, maybe West is right. Maybe Draymond is a top-10 player. What a wonderful Warriors World we live in.

Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 131, Pacers 123

(Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images)

Here's the WarriorsWorld version.

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It wasn't supposed to be this easy. The Warriors were playing the fifth game of a seven game road trip, their third contest in four nights. They were supposed to be tired; they weren't supposed to go up by 32 points. Their opponent had the fourth best record in the East and an MVP candidate of their own. This game should've been more competitive. Yet, it wasn't. Buoyed by a Klay Thompson offensive explosion, Golden State dismantled Indiana to improve their record to 23-0. Up next: The David Lee Reunion game.

Here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1. Indiana came out on fire. Paul George had 8 quick points and the Pacers were hitting everything to go up 21-15 early. But just as the fans at the Fieldhouse started to dream the improbable, the inevitable happened. Golden State went on a 22-0 run behind blistering shooting from Klay Thompson who had 11 points in the game's first 7 minutes. Thompson finished with 39 points, 7 boards, 6 assists and 10-16 from long-range. He was so hot I barely noticed Steph's 29 points. The Warriors had to hang on late, but the outcome was never in doubt.
2. Monta Ellis had a line that Warriors fans are all too familiar with: 9 points on 4-11 shooting with 6 turnovers for a minus-4 in a losing effort...
3. ...but I'll always appreciate Monta's time with the Warriors. Sure, there were some dicey moments, but that doesn't diminish all the good times. You can't blame him for some of the things that happened under the Cohan-Rowell leadership. Now every time I see Monta play the Warriors, it's like bumping into an ex-girlfriend that you parted ways with amicably. After the awkward meeting, you just hope the person is doing well and that you don't run into them too often.
4. Curry must find regular lobs too easy. Look at this guy.
5. Paul George isn't just back, he's new and improved. After taking a mini All-Star leap two years ago, PG-13 has taken THE leap and forced himself into the "best small forward in the league" conversation. He may not be number one, but with averages of 27, 8, 4, 45% from the field and threes (all career highs) and standout defense, he's at least knocking on Lebron's door. He was ubiquitous in this game (33 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 combined steals and blocks). If not for Stephen Curry's complete takeover of the NBA, George's MVP-level play would be a much bigger story. 
6. Remember when the Pacers were predicted to have a losing season? Indiana lost David West and gave away Roy Hibbert before the year. Yet they're right in the thick of the much-improved East, half a game behind first-place Miami (prior to the game). The Pacers plucked George with the tenth pick in the 2010 draft, helped develop him into an elite player and surrounded him with quality teammates. Good coaching and a good front office: why can't some teams get this right? 
7. Curry may not be the strongest defender, but he slides his feet well one-on-one and his lightning quick hands gets steals (2.2 a game) and jams up opponents. In the first quarter, he knocked the ball loose on back-to-back possessions from Monta and Rodney Stuckey. 
8. Andrew Bogut looks to be moving much better. He finished with 14 and 10 and had a couple of nice blocks. He had a game high plus-31.
9. Warriors shooting guards old and new: 6:00 left in the third, Klay hits a three. Monta races up the court for a mid-range jumper that clanks. Klay gets the ball again for another three-point swish. 6-0 run.
10. The only thing that managed to cool Klay off was a rolled ankle late in the fourth. The x-rays were negative and he said he should be fine in "a couple of days." Hopefully his prognostication is as accurate as his shooting.

Warriors Roundup: Warriors news from around the league

The links are in bold. Can't underline the word for whatever reason.

- Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks it's time the Warriors lost a game.

- Matt Steinmetz recounts the glorious days of Monta and Curry. (Sarcasm.)

- Andre Iguodala made some "jokes" to ESPN. 

- Stephen Curry gets more deodorant.

- USA TODAY compares the scoring prowess of Curry and Kobe Bryant.

Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 114, Nets 98

As usual, you can find all my contributions to Warriorsworld.net here.

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(Photo: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports)

No team in the history of the NBA has ever had a 7-0 road trip. The Warriors almost made history two seasons ago but lost to the Nets in Brooklyn in their final game to settle for a 6-1 trip. After beating a spirited Nets team on Sunday, Golden State gets another chance at the record books this year. If they happen to drop a game to the Pacers, Bucks, or Celtics this week, 22-0 is a pretty good consolation prize.

Here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1) The Nets made the Warriors earn this win. After taking the Dubs to overtime in Oakland, Brooklyn again showed their resiliency. They overcame a 17-point first-half deficit and took a five point lead in the third quarter. But then, with about 6:00 left in the quarter, and the Nets playing with all the momentum, the Curry Flurry happened. Steph had 16 in the period, capped by a final 4:12 where he hit for 14 points on a couple of ridiculous, but usual-for-him, threes. And he threw in a well-timed lob for a monster Festus Ezeli jam for good measure. Just like that and the Warriors were back in control.

2) The bench unit came in and played an outstanding fourth quarter. They turned a 7-point lead into a 20-point cushion, allowing the starters ample rest in the final period on the second half of a back-to-back. Four of the top five plus-minus numbers came from the subs.

3) The Warriors may not match the ’96 Bulls with 72 wins, but they’ve already matched them in popularity in road arenas. Curry got loud cheers for pulling in the game’s first rebound, and when Klay hit his first two three-pointers, the ovation sounded like a home game.

4) On an evening where Andrew Bogut looked a half step slow playing with back spasms, Festus gave the Warriors 20 fantastic Swagzeli minutes. His play changed the tenor of the game defensively. He thwarted drivers in the lane (4 blocks) and added 12 timely points when the game was still close. Not sure I’ve ever seen this before, but he had the team’s highest plus-minus at plus-20.

5) Steph missed three free throws in a row. He hadn’t missed that many free throws in a single game in 137 contests. Even when he does something bad it’s amazing. That’s almost two years without missing three free throws in the same game.

6) In the fourth, the Warriors got a delay of game warning for jumping out on the court to celebrate the bench unit breaking open the game. What a fun team. The only way to stop their joy is with a penalty.

7) It must be mentally taxing to guard the Splash Brothers. Defenders have to forget everything they’ve ever learned about basketball and stick with Klay and Steph regardless of the play unfolding on the court. At 4:09in the third, Larkin and Brown both ran with the cutter Klay, accidentally leaving Curry all alone at the arc. One little slip up like that and all of a sudden Brooklyn’s 3-point lead vanishes with the flick of Steph’s wrist.

8) Did anyone else see the curious video of Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov at their practice facility showing off his pushups drills? The looks the players had were the same as the face my niece makes when my brother makes a lame dad-joke. Ok, old man, I’m going to play along and smile since you pay the bills, but in no way do I think this is cool.

9) Injury watch: Harrison Barnes did some light stationery drills before the game. He’s to be
reevaluated next Sunday. Come back and soar with us soon, Falcon!

10) Curry is to other NBA superstars what In ‘N Out is to other fast food burgers. With the Warriors up 20 in the final minutes of the game, and Steph still on the court, the fans stayed glued in their seats hoping to see a little more magic. This was a game in Brooklyn. Heat fans left early in the fourth quarter of Lebron’s final home game in Miami hoping to beat the traffic.

Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 112, Raptors 109

(Photo: Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports)

Stephen Curry must have really gotten to know the rims in Air Canada Center as a kid when Dell was playing for Toronto. The reigning MVP had 44 points on 24 shots, with a slew of clutch baskets in crunch time. Is it hyperbolic to say there are not enough words in the English language to describe what Curry and the Warriors are doing to the NBA right now? Are ooh and aahs considered words? That’s all anyone can say watching this team. 21-0 is beyond language.

Here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1) Curry had his seventh 40-point game of the season. The rest of the league has 15 (as of writing). Despite Kyle Lowry playing the game of his life (41 points, 7 assist) the Warriors managed to beat a tenacious Raptors squad on the road. This team and this streak and this lights-out shooting is getting ridiculous.

2) Toronto GM, Masai Ujiri gives lots of fun quotes. Before yesterday’s game he told Jim Rome the key to stopping the Warriors was to pray to God. I think he was joking, but after Steph’s 9-15 shooting from threes, maybe not. Maybe diving intervention is the only legitimate strategy.

3) The Dubs are a little more vulnerable without Harrison Barnes. His scoring and ability to spread the floor is definitely missed, but more importantly, without HB, the small-ball lineup isn’t quite as effective. The 6’8″ ‘Barnes keeps the team big while going small, and he’s a much better shooter than Livingston.

4) Draymond Green’s 3-point percentage has come back down to earth after a blistering start. He’s 0-14 from distance in his last four games and defenses have stopped running out at him. But if he can keep up his current 38% for the season, that’ll be more than enough from the four spot.

5) My favorite three-pointer is the Chaos Three. When everything is helter-skelter, the Dubs always seem to get a big basket. At 8:59 in the first, Lowry gets his hand on the ball for an apparent steal, but the ball bobbles around before finding it’s way to Curry — left open in the scramble — who calmly sinks a three.

6) Cory Joseph has good body control. He had a couple of nice, strong drives, and a well-balanced jump-stop floater. How much of his $30 million contract should he donate to Spurs University and professor Tony Parker.

7) Did DeMarre Carroll foul Festus on purpose to prevent Klay from getting a wide open three in the third quarter? The foul meant side out of bounds as the Raptors weren’t in the penalty (Klay hit the shot after the whistle). Would you rather have a Klay or Curry open three-pointer or a foul? Can this become a strategy for opposing defenses?

8) Someone (Dwane Casey?) should tell DeMar DeRozan that getting Draymond on a switch and going one-on-one isn’t an advantage.

9) Marreese Speights’ poor defense really stands out on this Warriors squad. He got caught repeatedly in no man’s land, reaching for the ball while Raptors drove in the lane for layups and lobs. When his shot’s not falling (1-4 FG) and he’s turning the ball over (4), it’s really hard to justify his minutes, even sans Barnes. He finished with a team low minus-12. But I’m still holding out hope that contract-year Speights is going to have his moment.

10) With Drake in attendance, Stephen Curry did his Hotline Bling out there. That dance we’ve never seen before, the confidence and skill to pull it off, it’s performance art at the highest level. Someone put the highlights online for the world to see.