OAKLAND — This is a reaction to everyone’s overreaction: The Warriors are not going to suffer from severe chemistry issues like nearly every reporter, fan and critic has suggested since Kevin Durant signed with the team in July.
This doesn’t mean I’m crowning them champions over the Cleveland Cavaliers, yet. I just don’t think their regular season path will be bumpy in the slightest, and 70 wins will be on the table come April.
Playing in what felt like half speed, Golden State trounced the Los Angeles Clippers 120-75 at Oracle Arena.
Klay Thompson scored 24 points in the first half on 8-for-11 shooting and finished with 30. Durant added 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 25 minutes. Steph Curry added 14 points in 25 minutes; Draymond Green had 8 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 22 minutes of playing time.
“The ball was really moving,” Steve Kerr said. “We have threats all over the place.”
The Warriors themselves, and certainly their naysayers, have been warning the basketball world for months that it’ll take time for this team to click. They said spacing, turnovers and on-court communication will be prevalent issues as Kevin Durant learns how to play with three All-Stars; as a reconstructed bench discovers their roles.
In the famous words of Lee Corso: Not so fast my friends.
People seemed to forget some Warriors player is going to be open nearly every trip down the court. Give Thompson and inch to breathe, and he’s firing up a swish. Durant looked natural as both a ball-handler and a post player with his back to the basket. Curry is embracing the role of a passer more. Talented, unselfish basketball players can figure things out quickly.
“That’s the way we play: everybody touches the ball, and if you’re open, shoot it,” Green said.
Even if it’s the preseason, no chemistry issues were apparent against the Clippers, and I’d be willing to bet this gelling period for the Dubs will not be a lingering issue — unlike it was for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat super teams. LeBron was walking into a situation with the Heat where he and Chris Bosh were brand new pieces. It was the same situation for he and Kevin Love in Cleveland, plus a brand new NBA head coach David Blatt. The situation is barely comparable to Golden State’s.
The Warriors aren’t starting 9-9 out of the gates because they have a core group of players who know how to play with each other. In a superstar league, Curry, Thompson and Green are coming off back-to-back NBA Finals appearances. Thompson didn’t sacrifice shots on Tuesday because he was the best player on the floor. On any given night, the Warriors have four different players who can carry that mantle.
“We’re on the same page 1-5,” Curry said. “We’re playing with energy.”
Durant’s best play of the night actually came on defense in the third quarter, the foremost reason for why this Warriors team will clobber opponents. Austin Rivers drove directly at Durant and the forward swatted his shot a few rows back into the seats. It was Durant’s third block of the night. He is the team’s rim protector.
One observation about Durant that’s been overlooked is how many free throws he will attempt. Last season he was 10th in the NBA with 498; the next closest Warrior was Steph Curry with 400 attempts, followed by Draymond Green’s 329. Durant went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe against the Clippers on Tuesday.
Another interesting observation that took place in the pre-game interview session: Steve Kerr is high on the Clippers. Power has shifted in the Western Conference and while the Spurs and Thunder have taken hits, Los Angeles stayed pat, which was the best thing for them. Kerr mentioned the fact that the Clippers were snakebitten in the first round last season, with injuries to both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Golden State’s head coach said the Clippers also have continuity, something the Warriors don’t have.
Curiously, Anderson Varejao received minutes with the starters in the third quarter, yet newcomer JaVale McGee didn’t. You would think Kerr would’ve wanted to see more of the 7-foot McGee and how he fits in with superstar talent, but that did not happen on Tuesday.
The Warriors honored Mo Speights with a video tribute late in the first quarter and the former Golden State power forward was received with a rousing ovation. Stunningly, Speights signed for the league minimum with the Clippers — in an offseason where many average role players cashed in for $15 million per season.
Golden State will play the Sacramento Kings Thursday night in San Jose. The season opener is Oct. 25 against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena.