Golden State Warriors: What We Learned From First Two Games

Oct 31, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) guards Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee (10) in the first half of the game at Staples Center.Clippers won 125-115. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors are one of the most exciting teams in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean that they’re invincible.

After a decisive 31-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Warriors had a harsh and cruel reality check when they were stumped by the Los Angeles Clippers the next day, showing that they’re not invincible. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Splash Brothers, are both averaging 24 points per game this season and need to keep it up in the future.

What exactly did we learn from these two games?

1. Stephen Curry is still a stone-cold shooter:

It looked like the Lakers could handle him. It looked like everything was OK. In reality, however, Curry is still the best shooter in the NBA. He is more than on pace to breaking the regular season record he set last season for most 3-pointers made. Against the Clippers, Curry drilled nine 3-point shots in various fashions.

The Clippers were scrambling to guard him, calling timeouts and yelling at each other whenever he got even the smallest look at the basket. It was just like the second half of the 2012-13 season. Curry is by far one of the best shooters in the NBA today.

2. Klay Thompson is focused on winning:

Thompson may have only had 10 points in the Warriors’ loss to the Clippers, but what the Warriors, as a whole, are concerned about, is winning. Although he couldn’t stop Chris Paul (who can?), he still played above-average defense, which would have worked on almost every other point guard in our league today.

He isn’t concerned with scoring the most points because he just wants to win. Right now, the Warriors are trying to do everything that they can to survive until a much needed scorer in Harrison Barnes is able to play following his foot ailment.

3. The Warriors’ bench won’t always click:

You thought the bench would be a problem before the beginning of the season? You were partially right. In the opener, the Warriors’ bench exploded, led by Toney Douglas’s 13 points. Everyone on the bench got some nice touches, hit a couple of nice shots and did their part for the team.

Against the Clippers, however, the Warriors’ bench was awful. It had 14 points in total with 16 personal fouls. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather have a bench that is more consistent. Obviously, Barnes’ foot problem is a bit discouraging at this point, but somehow, someway, a player on the bench for the Warriors is going to have to step up and do what it takes to provide for the lack of scoring.