As much as it may be a still-early-in-the-season quirk, here is a shocking statement of fact considering how these teams have been discussed since opening night: Not only do the Warriors have the same number of losses as the Lakers as of Nov. 2, Golden State also has a worse net rating. That means, if you really wanted to, you could mount an argument that the Lakers (among many others) have been better than the Dubs so far this season.
Of course, that’s not what I’m about to do. The moribund Lakers (on a two-game win streak!) simply serve as a fascinating touchstone when it comes to the Warriors. Golden State, by most expectations, still belongs in the realm of title contenders. So then what’s the reason for the current malaise for the defending champs, slumming it with the dregs of the league? The health has generally been good, and Stephen Curry has more or less picked up from when he left off as Finals MVP. The answer lies within the younger crop of players the Dubs are desperately trying to develop alongside their championship core.
Much ink, metaphorical or otherwise, has been spilled on Golden State’s “Two Timeline” experiment. In addition to Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the organization has been trying to mix in recent lottery picks James Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga to turn them into regular contributors. That plan has already hit some snags.
