Daily NBA Fix: Perhaps The Golden State Warriors Are Human After All

Stephen Curry’s 20-point surge in the fourth quarter wasn’t enough to complete a comeback against the Denver Nuggets, but the Golden State Warriors are still tied for the best start in NBA history.

Don’t worry, Golden State Warriors, you can still be the best team ever. In fact, this doesn’t even derail them from having the best record after 39 games, as their 36-3 mark merely ties the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. To keep on track, Golden State need to get to 41 wins before their next loss.

It looked like the Warriors were going to win Wednesday night when Curry got things going late with 20 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, but a turnover by Curry ended up sealing Golden State’s face as the Denver Nuggets held on for a 112-110 win.

It probably didn’t help that Golden State was playing without their triple-double machine, Draymond Green, but it isn’t like the Warriors aren’t loaded with talent. It was a combination of Danilo Gallinari‘2 28 points and defense, as well as Will Barton‘s 21 points that help Denver upset the Warriors.

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It is strange and exciting to see the expectations put on this team despite plenty of criticisms leveled their way when the season began, one being that they wouldn’t get close to winning 72. They still have seven more games to give to tie that Bulls team. They’ve been the dominant headline all season long and until they lose 10 games, they will remain there.

Everyone wants to know if they can do it, even if they are cheering against them. Unless I jinxed them, it seems likely it is going to happen.

But games like Wednesday night show this team is human too. The Nuggets aren’t terrible, but they were a 12-point underdog at home, which tells you how great this Warriors team is, or at least what’s expected of them.

No matter how this ends, the ride has been exciting so far as their ceiling has almost been historically high and their floor continues to rise as well. One way or another, we’re watching one of the best team’s in NBA history right now. Enjoy it.

Thunder Beat Mavericks After Shoving Match

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t have too much trouble with the Dallas Mavericks in a 108-89 victory, but J.J. Barea continued a strong tradition of guards annoying bigger players to the point where they get themselves ejected.

Russell Westbrook had been scuffling with J.J. when he picked up his second technical foul in the second quarter to end his game with eight assists and seven rebounds and zero points. It wasn’t as if the Thunder needed him to win, but if he picks up a suspension then it certainly won’t be worth the trouble when Oklahoma City plays the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

NCAA Finally Catching Up With the Times?

It an effort to not appear like an anachronism, the NCAA changed a few of their rules around the NBA Draft to make things easier on their athletes.

According to CBS Sports, the moves allow players to wait until 10 days after the draft combine to withdraw their name, instead in April.

"“The rule is a good idea because it provides men’s basketball student-athletes the opportunity to test their dream of going beyond the stage of amateurism into the professional level without completely sacrificing their collegiate career, should they find they are not as prepared as they had hoped for the next level,” said Cody McDavis, a member of the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee."

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The NCAA still has a long way to go to be fair with their

employees

athletes, but this is a step in the right direction.