Warriors, Mavericks

The Western Conference is wide open this year; with everyone looking to dethrone the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Over the next month, I will write installments about these different teams. This week is about the Warriors and Mavericks.

Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors are the most exciting team to watch in the league, and that is mainly due to the excellence they have in the backcourt.  Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 42.2 ppg last year, and shot 42.1% from three-point range. Curry has 26 ppg, 6.9 apg, and is shooting 48.1%. Thompson has 24.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3 rpg, and is shooting 48%. These numbers are unreal. Thompson’s defense has been improving at a quicker rate than Curry’s, but Thompson’s 6’7” frame helps. Curry has had ankle problems in the past, but he seems fine at the moment.

This team made one of the smartest trades in recent memory when they traded Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut in 2012. At the time, it was widely criticized. Ellis was an elite scorer in the league, and Bogut was considered a waste of the #1 overall pick. This trade was genius because it added the size this team sorely lacked, and it allowed for Thompson to take over at SG. In their game against the Clippers on Nov. 5, Bogut had six points, 14 rebounds and five assists. His presence was greatly missed in the playoffs, since he did not play at all. David Lee played in his first game of the season, scoring six points in seven minutes. Lee has been battling a hamstring injury.

Draymond Green is quietly becoming really good, and he exemplifies how this team is acquiring the right role players. Through 7 games, he is averaging 13.6 points per game in 33.1 minutes. Last year, he averaged 6.2 ppg in 21.9 minutes. He has always been known for his defense, and everyone seems to become a better shooter in Golden State. Andre Iguodala is constantly becoming more comfortable in his role as well.

The Warriors may have the most complete roster in the NBA. They were third in defensive efficiency last year. They scored 120 points twice this year and scored over 100 every game except for two. They only scored 120 eight times during the 2013-14 season. The Warriors have transformed themselves into a real contender, instead of just a circus shooting team. They do need to cut down on the turnovers, since the lead the league with 22.1 per game.

Dallas Mavericks:

The Dallas Mavericks finally won an NBA Title in 2011 after a decade of underachieving. The team had a brief rebuilding period, but thy have a roster that appear to be ready to contend again. Although Dirk Nowitzki is 36 years old, his game aged well since it was never that physical to begin with. He is averaging 20.9 ppg, and is shooting .486 from three-point range. The Mavs were one of the busiest teams in the offseason. They signed swingman Chandler Parsons away from Houston, reunited with C Tyson Chandler, and signed PG Jameer Nelson from Orlando. Nelson has become the starting PG, allowing Devin Harris to play the sixth man role.

Tyson Chandler is starting to age, but his return to Dallas looks like it has reenergized him. In 2013-14 with New York, Chandler was not himself. He missed 27 games due to injury, and he looked sluggish when he did play. He looks more limber now, and he is playing with new life. I am convinced that he stopped trying with the Knicks because he was forced to overextend himself defensively due to their cavalier defensive mindset. Chandler is expected to be a pillar of the Mavs defense, something the team has been lacking lacking ever since his departure. 

This team looks great on paper, but teams always take time to gel when new pieces arrive. This is due to the coach finding the right situational lineups, and players figuring out how to feed off each other. Parsons has been streaky to start the season, but he has had a different role. He has been playing some PF position due to depth at SF. Al-Farooq Aminu has been a nice addition at both forward positions too. Once coach Rick Carlisle figures out the different rotations, this team will be very good.


Photos from bleacherreport.com