The Golden State Warriors' 12-0 start has them within just three victories of tying the NBA record for most wins to open a season, currently shared by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets. Can they make and exceed history? Will they fall short? We're here to take a look at both sides with Fact Or Fiction: Warriors Will Break The NBA Record For Most Wins To Start A Season
The Case For FACT:
According to ESPN stathead John Hollinger, the Golden State Warriors have the most efficient offense in the NBA to open the 2015-16 campaign -- scoring 110.7 points per 100 possessions. That's a full three points better than the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2nd and is a direct result of the team's willingness to make the extra pass (20.6 assists per game, 1st in NBA) and ability to knock down open looks from all over the court (58.1 true shooting %, 1st in NBA).
When Charles Barkley infamously labeled the Warriors as a jump-shooting team last year, he wasn't telling the whole story (or wasn't aware of the whole story.) The Warriors are an EXTREMELY intelligent jump-shooting team that cycles the ball with such confidence and efficiency that jump shots effectively become layups in the hands of shooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
What takes this whole equation to the next level, though, is the team's commitment on defense. It'd be easy for this team to lag behind on opponents' fast breaks, especially considering the fact that the Warriors run their offense at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA (102.7). That's not their style. Each Warriors rotation player is, at bare minimum, above average at getting back and setting their feet in correct defensive positioning to limit passing lanes and cut off slash-and-kick lanes to the hoop.
In summation, Golden State is playing at a level as close to perfection as an NBA team is ever going to get. They're 12-0 already, and there are no glaring weaknesses manifesting themselves to suggest they'll be slowing down anytime soon.
The Case For FICTION:
If the Warriors get to Sunday's road game against the Denver Nuggets at 14-0, they're a prohibitive favorite to set the record. However, that's a very big if. Golden State is prepping for one of the toughest back-to-backs any NBA team is going to face this year, with a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday followed by a marquee home game on Friday against the Chicago Bulls.
The Clippers (6-4) have been inconsistent at best to start 2015-16, but there's a solid chance Chris Paul will return on Thursday from a two-game absence (strained right groin) and that could be trouble. Paul's the engine that makes the Clippers hum, and he'll be leading a Clippers team that'll come out of the gates firing and looking for payback after a four-point loss on November 4th.
Thatt's a tough rivalry game regardless of circumstance, and it's made even more daunting with a date against a Bulls looming the very next day at Oracle Arena. The Bulls have been hot as of late, winning three in a row and four of five. While their offense has been stagnant for large stretches so far, they play comparable defense to the Warriors and are adept at using their length on the perimeter to close gaps on quick-fire shooters.
There's nothing in the Warriors' game right now to out-and-out predict a loss. But, the law of averages and diminishing returns on back-to-backs could nip them in the bud.
Verdict: FACT
Betting against this particular Warriors team at this particular point in time is silly. Klay Thompson's ailing back remains an issue, but it's not a killer for a Dubs team that boasts the deepest full rotation in the NBA. Even if Thompson has to sit one of these next four games, the evolution of guys like Draymond Green (who's become one of the best passing big men in the game today) is more than enough to paper over the gap.
Until someone proves they can run with the Warriors for a full 48 minutes, we won't write them off. The Brooklyn Nets came the closest a few games back, but they couldn't sustain things long enough to survive Golden State's counterpunches. The Dubs are too good, too efficient and too motivated to get knocked down while history is within arm's reach.
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