Golden State Warriors: Recent Success Is Not a Surprise

For the past two decades, the Golden State Warriors have been the laughing stock of the NBA. Draft bust after draft bust, the Warriors had a very difficult time getting out of the deep hole they dug themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Prior to 2011-12, the Warriors had failed to accomplish a 40-win season in all but one of 18 straight seasons. Now over 20 years later, the Warriors are finally beginning to get the recognition they deserve.

It took a franchise record win streak of 16 games and counting and a 21-2 record to start the season, but they finally are beginning to get the recognition of what they can really be.

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All along, Warriors fans knew this team had the potential to win a title and not just a division title or a conference title. This team had the potential to win a championship.

The talent has always been there, and the key to that was going to be consistency and a healthy roster. That is a large reason why they never ended up getting there, but it appears now health hasn’t even really effected them.

David Lee has played just seven minutes this season, and Andrew Bogut has been out for the past four games. It would definitely make this team better to have the offensive production of Lee, while Bogut is one of the biggest pieces of this team’s recent defensive and offensive success.

Despite that, this team is still finding ways to win. Some of that credit goes to new coach Steve Kerr, who has fine-tuned the already good team that Mark Jackson left for him, and that is what it comes down to.

The same team that many didn’t believe even had a chance at making it to the Conference Finals last year is the same team that is currently a favorite to win it all.

Stephen Curry, who was snubbed from an All-Star Game in 2012, is now in talks for being a possible MVP candidate. Klay Thompson, who was considered good but not great, has been one of the biggest contributors to the team’s recent success.

Dec 16, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Marries Speights (5) guard Klay Thompson (11) forward Harrison Barnes (40) and guards Andre Iguodala (9) and Stephen Curry (30) walk back on the court after a timeout in the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green, who was taken in the second round of the Draft, is playing like a top-five pick. Marreesse Speights, who has never been much of a role player throughout his career, is now a front runner for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Harrison Barnes, who had fallen to the wayside last season, has been inserted into the starting lineup and is playing better than ever.

The list goes on for the Warriors. Every player this season on that roster is playing to the best of their ability, and the potential has always been there. The Warriors have been a relatively young team, and it was only a matter of time before they took it to the next level.

For Warriors fans, they knew a championship run wasn’t too far away. This team has always had the potential to be this good, the rest of the league just never saw it.

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