After Golden State improved to 10-2 with a 123-118 win over Memphis on Friday, Stephen Curry was asked how much a stat like that can reveal about a team’s potential.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Curry told ESPN, downplaying the start. “You don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. We understand we’re building a foundation and a new identity with this team. And you want to be rewarded with winning while you’re learning, so that’s a good start.”
While they lost Klay Thompson in free agency, the Warriors did not undergo a major roster turnover this offseason. They brought back Curry, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gary Payton II, Andrew Wiggins and Gui Santos from last year’s squad. However, their offseason additions — Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, Lindy Waters III and De’Anthony Melton — have made vital contributions in the young season.
The team is trusting 11-12 players to provide quality minutes on a nightly basis — a formula that worked for the 2014-15 Warriors who lived by their “strength in numbers” slogan.
“We have 12 guys usually in our rotation that can play, so it feels different, looks different [from last year], but we’re trying to build baby steps,” Curry said.
The Warriors’ deep rotation is best typified by the stat that no player, not even Curry (28.8) or Green (27.8), has averaged 30 minutes per game through the first 12 outings. Amazingly, seven players are clocking at least 20 minutes per night and four others are averaging at least 15. Payton II is averaging 11.8 minutes as the 12th man.
The red-hot Warriors, on a three-game winning streak, will next travel to the Clippers on Monday before returning home to host the Hawks.
