The real Warriors are starting to show up

Less than 48 hours after blowing a 17-point lead in a 10-point loss to the Spurs, the Warriors squandered an 18-point advantage in an eight-point defeat to the Nets on Monday night. 

On paper, you'd think there's no need to sound off the alarms since the 12-5 Warriors hold the second seed in the West and suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. 

But there are patterns — or bad habits, for the lack of a better term — plaguing Steve Kerr's team in recent weeks. 

Over their last 10 games, the Warriors are outscoring opponents by only 1.2 points — a razor-thin margin that suggests a 6-4 record could have easily been 4-6 or even 3-7. In comparison, they were drubbing opponents by 17.3 points in the first seven games.

The Warriors are also no longer the defensive menace they were in the first seven games when they held opponents to just 102.1 points per 100 possessions. Over the last 10 games, they have conceded 111.4 points per 100 possessions, and even more worryingly, they have plummeted enormously in various hustle metrics.

For example, Golden State averaged 22.3 deflections through the first seven games while recovering 6.6 loose balls per game. Those marks ranked top-three in the NBA. It also contested a league-best 43.0 shots per game. Over the last 10 games? The deflections are down to 17.7, loose balls recovered to 3.9 and contested shots to 42.8. 

The regression in hustle metrics shows the Warriors are no longer as connected on both ends of the floor. There were numerous moments in Monday's fourth quarter when they were outscored 41-28 by the lowly Nets that made one go, "See, these are the real Warriors."