The demise of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty may have been greatly exaggerated. They entered the 2024-25 NBA season under mild expectations after undergoing some serious changes during the off-season, and it would mark the first time that the team played without Klay Thompson on the roster since 2010-11.
But few teams have gotten off to a hotter start than the Warriors through the first three weeks of the season, and they have depth and outstanding defense to thank.
Warriors Are Off To A 7-1 Start
It appeared that their 6-1 start may have been fool’s gold. The combined record of the Warriors’ opponents through their first seven games was 12-26, as they opened with one of the softest schedules in the league. But starting this week and into the next, Golden State is scheduled to take on some of the league’s elite teams, a stretch that started on Wednesday night in Boston.
BUDDY HIELD DAGGER 🔥
WARRIORS IMPROVE TO 7-1 AFTER BEATING THE CELTICS IN BOSTON 😤 pic.twitter.com/JSnNln3GWe
— ESPN (@espn) November 7, 2024
The Celtics entered the night as one of two teams in the Eastern Conference with fewer than two losses, and were maintaining their status as the overall favorite to win the NBA Championship in June. But their 6.5-point underdog status proved to be a false prediction, as Stephen Curry and the Warriors were in control most of the game, and wound up winning 118-112 over Jayson Tatum and company.
The impressive win moved the Warriors to 7-1 on the season, and into a three-way tie with the Thunder and Suns atop the West.
How is a team that got eliminated in the Play-In last year and failed to bring in any star players during the off-season playing like one of the top teams in the NBA so far? The answer so far has been depth and defense.
Depth & Defense Have Been Keys To Success
One of the most notable changes for the Warriors this season has been their rotation. They have 13 players on their roster that are averaging at least 12 minutes per game, and are getting contributions from essentially all of them.
One of the biggest stories of the early season has been the play of Buddy Hield, who Golden State brought in back in July. He is just behind Curry when it comes to points per game (21.2 to 21.1) and has a three point percentage better than 50% through the first eight games. He is using Curry’s gravity to find open shots when the two play together, but is staying hot when Curry is on the bench, as well.
That No. 2 ranked @warriors defense at work in Boston!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/emmYkWzM03
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2024
Their defense has been just as impressive as their depth. Coming into Wednesday’s action, they allowed the second-fewest points per game in the NBA, and were able to hold the mighty Celtics to their lowest scoring output of the season. Their offensive barrages combined with the 105.3 points per game that they allow give the Warriors the best scoring differential in the league so far this year (+15.8).
How long will their hot start last? Things won’t get any easier in the upcoming games, as Golden State is set to take on both the Cavaliers and Thunder this weekend. They’ll return home Tuesday to take on Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks.
