The Warriors have been dominant early in the season and it’s become more obvious by the day that Golden State should be heavy NBA Championship favorites.
Coming into Tuesday night’s trip to Barclays Center to face the surging Nets, the Golden State Warriors held the NBA‘s best record at 11-2. However, there were fans and analysts alike who were insistent on detracting from their early success, saying that the team had a soft schedule. Thus, the matchup against the Nets offered a chance to silence those voices.
Stephen Curry and the Warriors understood the assignment. On the road, they thoroughly waxed the Nets in a 117-99 blowout that moves Golden State to 12-2 on the season and keeps them firmly above the rest of the league in the standings through the first month of the season.
However, this is starting to look like something that isn’t just an early-season thing and, rather, much more like something that is going to last throughout the 2021-22 campaign. And if that’s the case, then there’s no argument to be made against the Warriors being clear, heavy favorites to win an NBA Championship this year.
And after this hot start for Golden State, there are several reasons as to why that’s the case.
Warriors: 5 reasons Golden State is the clear NBA Championship favorite
5. Chemistry
This might seem mundane, but it’s something that’s so clearly integral to the success of Golden State this season. In the simplest terms, it’s abundantly clear within seconds of watching this team that many of the key players have been together for several years now and that they’ve engrained the newer pieces into the mix.
Whether we’re talking about Draymond Green finding Steph Curry with a pass to a spot where the sweet-shooting guard hasn’t even gotten to yet, the alley-oops in both transition and the open floor to young Gary Payton II, or even the trust in a player like Jordan Poole to keep shooting even when he’s off, the Warriors are clearly always in-unison.
For this team to already be displaying that type of chemistry a month into the season fully displays just how special this season could be for them.