Steph Curry returns to Charlotte for New Year's Eve battle with Hornets

So if it's not the offense, which has been the Warriors' catalyst for most of their dynasty, what's keeping them afloat?

Key to the game: Play disciplined and smart

One major advantage remains from those years back when the Warriors dominated the league: Their savviness and experience. Because objectively, they are a team with major physical disadvantages that should struggle with the fast pace and high physicality of today's NBA.

From the small Backcourt (Curry, Payton II, Podziemski), to the lack of lengthy wings, to the tall and sluggish center room (Post, Jackson-Davis, Horford), this isn't the type of roster you'd dream of when thinking about body measurements.

But they make up for it. They do so on offense, by taking and making lots of threes, and capitalizing on every possible defensive lapse. Green, Curry, and Butler are all good decision-makers who will spot open teammates or cuts regularly.

They average the most passes in the NBA, not because those always lead to assists, but because the more the ball moves, the harder it is for opposing defenses to stay focused. This can also lead to overpassing if the defense keeps up, though.

And if you're able to force the less talented players like Jackson-Davis or Post to act quickly, you're likely to get a turnover out of it, whether that be a bad pass or an offensive foul.

Defensively, Steve Kerr's team is amongst the best in the league, and it again stems from them playing well-organized as a unit. They have close to no great individual defenders, yet they have the third-best defensive rating.

They're also one of the best units against the pick-and-roll, which has been a major factor in Kon Knueppel's strong start to the season.

The recent stretch of games has given Hornets fans hope that this team might have matured into a more consistent version of itself. This will be a great test to see if that is accurate. Should they stick to their principles defensively, while staying active and patient offensively, they have a real shot at winning.

Projected Starting Lineup