The Golden State Warriors keep rolling with their new triple-double machine Draymond Green, but the San Antonio Spurs have been the most dominant team in the NBA since the start of December.
No, the San Antonio Spurs may not be the team with a 35-2 record stirring up constant 1995-96 Chicago Bulls comparisons, but they are still the class of the NBA right now. They just go about their business and have become the 3rd best offensive team in the league and by far the best defensive team, and they’re doing everything necessary to stay right behind the history-making Golden State Warriors.
Even though Stephen Curry may have had some issues with a shin injury lately, and Harrison Barnes has only recently returned from a month out, the Warriors have hardly been struggling. They’ve still only lost twice due to their star power and depth, not to mention Draymond Green’s play with a league-best eight triple-doubles so far.
Of course, some will think that the Warriors are still the top team. That’s what happens with their exhilarating offense, the Splash Brothers’ magic and Green’s historic numbers. And technically speaking, they are top. But when it comes to the simple question of who’s playing the best basketball right now, the fact of the matter is that it’s the Spurs. Also, the way they aren’t shrouded in hype and drama just adds something to their veteran demeanor as the always underrated title threat.
Since December 1, the Spurs have maintained a +18.3 net rating. No other team even has a rating above +10 in this time span, and the Spurs’ 18.3 is more than double the Warriors’ mark (more on this to follow in the next few slides). It’s pretty hard to ignore that kind of dominance, isn’t it?
You have to think that a seven-game series between these two is going to be incredibly close, even if the Warriors looked miles above everyone else early on.
Anyway, there’s more discussion of the Spurs to come. Let’s get started and breakdown the rest of the NBA’s action from week 11. If you’re new to this series, here are the segments that will be featured:
- The key games and results of the week
- Who’s heating up?
- Who’s struggling?
- The best highlights of the week
- A weekly rookie watch
- Under-the-radar players to look out for
So, what better way is there to start than a double-overtime showdown that was only decided by a final second three-pointer?
Next: The Key Games and Results of Week 11