On Nov. 24, 2015 the Golden State Warriors made NBA history as they became the first team to start the season 16-0. The Warriors had no trouble beating the Los Angeles Lakers 111-77 as their high-powered offense and great teamwork dismantled Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
“Their start has been crazy. They have made winning look so easy,” said Peter Puertas, a sophomore business major from Provo, Utah.
Last year the Golden State Warriors surprised the NBA by finishing with an NBA best 67-15 record and maybe even more impressive, only losing two home games throughout the regular season.
Stephen Curry and Clay Thompson, otherwise known as the “splash brothers” lit up the NBA from the 3-point line. Curry broke the NBA record from most 3-pointers in a single season, the previous one being his, with 286. Thompson added to that impressive stat by hitting 239.
After cruising through the regular season it was no surprise to many that it was Golden State who held up the NBA championship trophy come June and that Curry won the MVP award. However, few would have guessed that after such a stellar season the Warriors could get any better.
That is, until this year when the Warriors have left no argument as to who is the best team in the NBA.
“They have been truly dominant so far this year. It is just incredible to watch them and how they play,” said Besser Davilla, a junior exercise science major from Provo, Utah.
After returning pretty much the same lineup the Warriors have decimated the NBA at the start of the regular season. Over their 16-game undefeated start to the season the Warriors have defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (2), Memphis Grizzles (2), and the Houston Rockets, all teams that they faced in the playoffs last year.
Along with that the Warriors have defeated their intrastate rivals the Los Angeles Clippers twice, both time coming back from 20-point deficits.
They have created a habit out of winning and play with such enjoyment and flair that it is hard to not be captivated by their performance.
Over this 16-game rampage the Warriors have won by double-digit margins 11 times for a league leading +15.6 average margin of victory. The Warriors currently lead the NBA in points per game with 114.3 and in field goal percent with .487.
From behind the arc the Warriors are hitting just over 12 3-pointers a game, shooting .410 percent. “I have never seen a team shoot that well, it used to be a surprise when a person more than five three-pointers in a game and now Curry does it almost every night,” said Mason Reid, a freshman undeclared major from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Time will tell how long the Warriors will keep their undefeated start going, so far they have extended their streak to 18. Regardless at this point it seems very likely that the Warriors will be going for back-to-back championship s come June.