Bleacher Report’s D.J. Foster wrote an article earlier this summer which asked the question, “Is the Golden State Warriors’ rebuilt bench good enough for the next step?”
My answer is yes.
The NBA preseason is underway, and the Golden State Warriors are powering ahead at full blast, racking up wins that, of course, don’t actually matter.
But for the Golden State Warriors team, coaches and front office, these wins matter. They’re not just tuning up for the 2014-15 NBA season. Whether these games mean anything or not, they’re making a statement. This is a serious playoff contender with a winning mentality.
Normally I wouldn’t be harping on preseason wins. I understand that coaches use this time to drill new offensive sets, test out their rookies and undrafted free agents, and maybe actually try to win the ball game once they’re satisfied with the data and observation.
But the Golden State Warriors look different in the 2014 preseason, as if there is more at stake than getting tuned up and meshed as a team. As if they’re getting a head start at proving to the world that they’re more than a one-and-done first-round-exit type of playoff team.
The Dubs continued their dominance in the preseason on Thursday night with a 104-101 win over the Denver Nuggets in an exhibition game held at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA. I know what you’re all thinking; yes, it is indeed the home of the AFL’s Iowa Barnstormers.
There is so much more to this victory than just a preseason win.
The Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets after being down 85-72 to start the fourth quarter. They stormed back to the tune of 32 points in the fourth quarter, while holding Denver to just 16.
What’s even more interesting? The Dubs double-digit comeback was not led by Stephen Curry, or Klay Thompson, or David Lee.
The comeback was led by the role players, the reserves and the guys fighting to even make the team. Nemanja Nedovic and James Michael McAdoo led the late charge, with help from Jason Kapono hitting a huge three-ball to put the Dubs on top 100-99 and complete the comeback.
McAdoo notched 17 points in the fourth frame, racking up 20 for the game on an impressive 7-of-10 shooting. Nedovic and Andre Iguodala helped cap the comeback with a victory.
The point here is that the Golden State Warriors are 4-0 in the preseason, and they’re winning games with any lineup Steve Kerr throws on the court. Denver head coach Brian Shaw did not take this one laying down. Shaw rolled with Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and the rest of his starters, who all played 24-27 minutes.
On the other end of the court, Steve Kerr wanted to get a look at his second and third units. How often can we say that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson had absolutely nothing to do with an impressive late-game comeback victory for the Golden State Warriors?
David Lee and Andrew Bogut both sat out while Ognjen Kuzmic, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes got a shot at starter’s minutes. Andre Iguodala came off the bench in a sixth man capacity, doing what he does best — a little bit of everything.
Aaron Craft saw some time on the floor in and with his smothering perimeter defense, he demonstrated why he deserves a shot at an NBA roster. The Golden State Warriors’ second, third and fourth-string players won a game for their team.
Don’t forget about a rehabbing Festus Ezeli and Shaun Livingston, two guys you would expect to be clear second-unit leaders. Suddenly this team is starting to look really, really strong.
Combined with the fact that Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, David Lee and Andrew Bogut make up the most well-rounded, complete starting five in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors are setting themselves up for a year of success like they haven’t seen in a long time.