Can Anyone Stop the Golden State Warriors?

Following the team’s practice on Thursday, a reporter asked Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green how the team celebrated their win over the Portland Trailblazers last Tuesday and, by extension, their winning of the Pacific Division title.

Photo courtesy of the official Golden State Warriors Twitter Account

"“We took a picture, and posted it on Instagram. That was our celebration,” Green answered. “Cool pictures though! We took like seven shots. Cool pictures.”"

Hmm.

For those unfamiliar with the accursed history of the franchise, such a response would appear to be said by a veteran player who was rather used to winning season accolades, but such is not the case — it’s been 39 years since the Warriors finished at the top of the Pacific Division, over a third of a century since Golden State has risen a banner to commemorate a team accomplishment.

What seemed like an entire lifetime to some is literally the first time in a lifetime for what’s assumed to be the majority of basketball fans in which the Golden State Warriors, a team that can trace its lineage back to the genesis of the NBA, has done something of note; and yet, all this special group of guys did was put on t-shirts, take a photograph and get back on with their lives.

Photo courtesy of the official Golden State Warriors Instagram Account

That’s not to say it was completely pushed aside; on the contrary, the team rose a banner in their practice facility in celebration. When Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was asked about it, he expressed a great deal of pride for what the banner stands for — a long, grueling, historical season for Golden State.

"“I love it,” Kerr said, referring to the banner. “It’s important to acknowledge that and hopefully it’s not another 39 years before we get the next one.”"

But as great as it would be for the Warriors to top the Pacific Division for years to come, it’s clear that clinching a division title has only narrowed their vision in pursuit of an honor far more prestigious.

And it’s no secret: the Warriors are good this year. They’ve been absolutely amazing, inconceivably incredible and utterly unbelievable. To say the least.

To say the most, the Warriors lead the league in nearly every advanced statistical category you can think of off the top of your head, including, but not limited to, offensive rating (109.6); defensive rating (97.5); effective field goal percentage (54.0); true shooting percentage (57.0); assist ratio (19.9); and point differential (10.7), all the while playing at a league-high pace (100.63).

History says that the last team to do such a thing was the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls that won a NBA record 72 games in a season, but in regard to the “jump shooting team” narrative that Golden State has deservedly fallen victim to, the way that this team has played their way to the top of the NBA has frankly never been seen before. Ever.

Which begs the question: how can you possibly hope to stop a team with no discernible weaknesses on either side of the floor? No precedent to trace a blueprint from which to brainstorm possible ways to hinder Golden State’s dominance?

Yes, the Warriors shoot a high rate of long range shots due to the presence of leading sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Add corner specialist Harrison Barnes into the mix alongside a “stretch-four” in Green, and you have yourself a jump shooting team.

What goes unmentioned, however, is the fact that as potent as they are offensively, their defense is proven to be just as deadly. Curry has racked up the most steals among eligible players this season (145), Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli have been protecting the paint, Barnes has improved defensively and both Green and Thompson are widely held as some of the best defenders in the league.

Considering the Warriors can flip on the defensive switch at any moment, people have begun to acknowledge the team’s ability to lockdown on any team in the NBA, but not everyone is entirely convinced. On the bright side, Green apparently takes the whole narrative as a positive.

"“More people are talking about the defense [now], but they’ll never stop saying we’re a jump shooting team because we have a lot of guys that can shoot jump shots. So it’s a compliment,” Green says.“Most people try to say ‘Oh it’s a problem they shoot jumpers.’ Well if you make them, which we do, then they’re gonna call you a jump shooting team. They wouldn’t call us a jump shooting team if we ain’t make no jump shots. So obviously we’re doing something right if they’re calling us a jump shooting team; that means we’re making them at a high rate. So we’ll continue to be who we are – a jump shooting team.”"

So not only do the Warriors have the sharpest sword (and the most unlikely weapon) in the business, but they also possess an impenetrable shield that helps protect an already formidable suit of armor. It’s arguably an unstoppable combination, one at the very forefront of progressive basketball.