This stat shows Warriors look like a lost cause
Stephen Curry amazes us with stunning feats. Leading a lousy Golden State team to the NBA Finals would rank among his greatest.
Through 41 games, Golden State (20-21) wallows below .500 -- the first defending champ since Miami in 2006-07 to have a losing record through 41 games.
That Miami Heat team went 19-22 through the first half of the 2006-07 season, finishing 44-38. Then the Bulls swept the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Golden State is 3-16 away from home -- the fewest road wins by any team. The lowly Houston Rockets -- the worst team in the NBA -- have four.
Golden State last played on the road on Dec. 21, a 143-113 loss in Brooklyn. That ended a six-game road trip in which the Warriors went 1-5 and lost by double digits four times.
It's not a surprise the Warriors are struggling. They laid the foundation for this disaster in the preseason.
Per Rolling Stone, the team contemplated trading pieces of its championship-winning team for a reunion with former teammate Kevin Durant. A video leaked to TMZ Sports captured Draymond Green punching teammate Jordan Poole.
Golden State demoted James Wiseman, its first-round pick (second overall) in the 2020 NBA Draft, to the G-League after a disappointing start. He returned on Dec. 7 but hasn't played since Dec. 28.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson struggled mightily to begin the season after an incredible return following multiple injuries forced him to miss the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. He has since turned the corner, averaging 20.8 points on 38.5 percent shooting from three. On Jan. 2, he scored a season-high 54 points.
Injuries have hampered the team, too.
Curry returned Tuesday against Phoenix after a shoulder injury forced him to miss 11 games. Wiggins has missed 17 games, including 15 consecutively because of an abductor injury. He returned Sunday.
But even when all the core starters are available, Golden State has underwhelmed.
Per NBA.com, the starting five of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Green, and Kevon Looney have played in 20 games together. The Warriors are 11-9 in those games.
Golden State's defense stinks, too. The Warriors are 26th in points allowed (117.7 ppg) after raking third (105.5 points) last season.
Like that 2006-07 Heat team, Golden State will make the playoffs. But don't expect these Warriors to stick around for long.
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