The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 105-90 on Sunday, Nov. 28. Steph Curry finished with 33 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals. He went on a fourth quarter three-point flurry after getting a technical foul.
Steph absolutely SNAPPED on the ref š” pic.twitter.com/NHHyZ4wPuX
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 28, 2021
After not getting a foul call on a drive to the basket, the usually calm Curry got into the officialās face. It was as animated as we’ve seen him since Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals when he got ejected for tossing his mouthpiece.
Unluckily for the Clippers, Curry wasn’t ejected, and all that technical seemed to do was fire up the two-time league MVP and his teammates.
After receiving the technical foul Curry hit three of four threes, including a step-back in the right corner that prompted a Clippers timeout, after which Curry gave the technical foul sign to the official.
BACK-TO-BACK THREES FOR STEPH š„
This last one was just … idk pic.twitter.com/ULLwaK7mAS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 28, 2021
The Warriors improved to a league-best 18-2 and look like a juggernaut on both sides of the floor. They are No. 1 in adjusted net rating, No. 1 in adjusted defensive rating, and No. 4 in adjusted offensive rating. That’s a recipe for success come June.
That they are doing this without Klay Thompson should frighten the rest of the league.
The Warriors have somehow gone from the class of the league during the first dynasty to a hungry underdog with championship aspirations, and it’s because of Curry. Right now he is playing with a tremendous chip on his shoulder and the rest of the team is feeding off it.
Every area of his game is at peak levels. He’s stronger and better on defense than he’s ever been.
But it’s also how Curry is reacting. Whether they be real slights like a foul he should’ve drawn or imagined slights, he is not letting anything slide, and neither are the Warriors.
They take it personally on defense when the opponent scores any basket, and they’re offended when they don’t score the way they want on offense. It’s incredible.
The Clippers are on a short list of teams in the Western Conference that could possibly give the Warriors some semblance of resistance. Add in the red-hot Phoenix Suns who host the Warriors on Tuesday night (Nov. 30) and the Utah Jazz, and that’s it.
In the East the Brooklyn Nets have the best record in the conference, but the Warriors demolished them earlier this month.
The Miami Heat look good (No. 3, in adjusted net rating) and the Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champs and rounding into form. Realistically that’s it, and in a potential NBA Finals matchup the Warriors would only have to beat one of these East contenders.
Right now the Warriors are the class of the league. Their only two losses came against the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime early in the season and to the Charlotte Hornets in the first game of a road trip.
The key to the Warriors success is their defense. Their offense is of course elite, but they get into their offense early and get easy baskets because of their defense.
Led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Draymond Green, all five guys are on a string, and the communication and trust are excellent. Everyone is bought in and supporting one another.
NBA titles are won in June, not November. But 20 games is a quarter of the way through the season. More often than not, trends that have been consistent through a quarter of the season and a team’s place in the standings usually hold through the regular season.
The Warriors are 18-2, have the league’s best defense, and possibly the MVP and DPOY. They’re really good.
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