Golden State Warriors Power Rankings: Number Two and Three
Last week, the Golden State Warriors didn’t dominate quite as much as they’re accustomed to, but how much did their 1-2 record last week affect their spot in the power rankings this week?
The Warriors played three games last week. In the first game, they faced the Chicago Bulls at home and lost in overtime 113-111. The Warriors then went on the road briefly to face the Utah Jazz, and the Warriors lost their second consecutive game by a final score of 110-100. The Warriors returned home the next day to face the Phoenix Suns, and they pulled off a 106-87 win.
In last week’s power rankings, the Warriors remained in the same spot as the previous week. The Warriors ranked number two in all of the major power rankings. This week, their place in the power rankings is pretty similar overall.
Let’s start off with ESPN this week.
The Atlanta Hawks have claimed the best record in the NBA, and Marc Stein of ESPN acknowledged that by leaving them at the number one spot in the power rankings this week. In addition to keeping the Hawks in the same spot, Stein left the Warriors in the number two spot this week. Here’s what Stein said about the Warriors:
"Bad timing for the Dubs to have, as Steve Kerr contends, lost their edge. They have dropped two of three and, on top of Friday’s much-hyped stop in Atlanta, will play 11 of 13 games on the road. No other team has such a stretch on its schedule this season."
John Schuhmann of NBA.com came to same conclusion about the top spots this week as Stein did, as he also ranked the Hawks as the number one team and the Warriors as the number two team. Schuhmann had also ranked the Warriors number two last week. Here’s what Schuhmann said about the Warriors this week:
"Golden State (37-8)Pace: 101.3 (1) OffRtg: 109.6 (3) DefRtg: 97.1 (1) NetRtg: +12.6 (1)The Warriors have only eight losses, but three two-game losing streaks. Rebounding was a big part of last week’s losses to the Bulls and Jazz, who combined for 36 offensive boards and 44 second chance points. No team has regressed more in defensive rebounding percentage than the Dubs, who rank 23rd this season, down from fifth last year.This week: @ SAC, vs. DAL, @ ATL, @ NYK"
Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports didn’t have much to say about the Warriors this week, and he also kept the Warriors in the number two spot this week, after ranking them in the same spot last week. Spears also ranked the Hawks as the number one team. Here’s what Spear said about the Warriors:
"2. Golden State Warriors (Record: 37-8; last week: 2): The Warriors visit the Hawks on Friday for what should be a dynamite matchup."
Matt Moore of CBS Sports had a different opinion than the other three NBA writers. Moore kept the Hawks in the number one spot again, but he decided to rank the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the Warriors at the number two spot, given their success as a team since acquiring Jeff Green. The Warriors were the number three team in Moore’s power rankings this week, and here’s what Moore had to say about the Warriors:
"They were bound to have a dip, but a little adversity (losses to the Bulls and Jazz back to back) is good for them."
This week, the Warriors have four games and two back-to backs. The Warriors’ first game is on the road against the Sacramento Kings, and their next game is the next day at home against the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors then have two back-to-back road games against the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks.
The games against the Kings and Knicks are definitely winnable, but the games against both the Mavericks and the Hawks are going to be tough but still winnable. In comparison, the Hawks have a difficult schedule this week, as they face the New Orleans Pelicans, the Washington Wizards, the Warriors, and the Grizzlies.
With the Hawks’ tough schedule this week and with Andrew Bogut healthy again, we’ll see if the Warriors can go 4-0 this week and reclaim the top spot in the power rankings.