OKC Thunder: TI editor power ranking week 9: The shuffle is on
3. team. 41. . 20-10. Previous: 5th. Golden State Warriors
The shift to health is finally swinging to the positive side of the pendulum with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both back. They entered week nine on a roll having won four in a row.
Although the Warriors rank in the top 10 of total rebounds thee are issues elsewhere in the paint. Specifically, the Dubs rank 22nd in offensive rebounding and are dead last on points in the paint scoring (allowing almost 10 points more to their opponents in the paint). Perhaps even more concerning is they are tied with the Wizards in 27th for points scored off second chance points.
Stephen Curry blew off the loss to the Raptors stating “they have to do it when the lights shine brightest”. I wonder if he considered each of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green have been there, done that while Serge Ibaka has also been to a finals.
No doubt Curry is right the young contributing Raptors (Siakam, Anunoby, VanVleet and Wright) would be affected should they reach the finals to face the Warriors. However, should this in fact be a finals matchup Curry neglected to recognize one simple fact. Toronto swept the series and just beat your fully healthy team by 20 points at Oracle without their best player on the floor — That, if nothing else is a huge confidence boost.
Regardless, the Warriors are still the team to beat and with Steph back they are at their best.
Now about that KD comment regarding not needing to move the ball so much! #IsoKevin
Golden State Warriors:
Offensive Rating: 1st
Defensive Rating: 15th
Net Differential: 7th
Points per game: 116.1 (3rd)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 49.1 percent (1st)
Opponent points per game: 111.1 (tied 17th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 44.1 percent (10th)
3-Point percent: 38.9% (2nd)
Opponent 3-point percent: 32.6% (4th)
Record: Tied 1st in WC (technically 2nd)
Home: 12-3
Road: 8-7
Back to back sets: 5
Versus the West: 10-6, 2nd in WC
Versus the East: 10-4
Week nine 2-1: Wins vs Timberwolves, @Kings, lost to Raptors
On tap for week 10: Grizzlies, @Jazz, (B2B: Mavericks, Clippers)