As the Golden State Warriors ready themselves for Monday’s room-temperature showdown with the New Orleans Pelicans, they are much-belabored league leaders in any number of categories.
Points per game? Check. Points per 100 possessions? Check. Points per 36 minutes? Check. Three-point shooting percentage? Check. Two-point shooting percentage? Check. Effective shooting percentage? Check. Total shooting percentage? Check. Defensive rating? Seventh after a terrible start. Pace? Fifth and climbing with a bullet. Best road attendance based on number of attendees over listed capacity? Well, uhhh, no; LeBron James still has that one. Try harder, lads.
But they also are the crankiest team in the NBA, which means that tonight’s officiating crew of Derrick Stafford, Matt Boland and J.