The 2022-23 NBA season has been a struggle thus far for the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. They have yet to find their form as the Warriors are 9-10, but they have started to find their footing in recent games.
There have been a few issues contributing to the team’s struggles in the early going. Steve Kerr has struggled to get production from the second unit as the Warriors’ bench has been a mess thus far.
That is what happens when you lose key contributors such as Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. in free agency as they signed with the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors, respectively. The young players haven’t stepped up yet as the organization had hoped and Jordan Poole has taken a huge step back across the board.
However, the Warriors are beginning to show some signs of life. Kerr is relying more heavily on the veterans and it has worked. Golden State has won three out of their last four games, which is also coinciding with Klay Thompson breaking out of his season-long shooting slump.
LATEST NBA NEWS & STATS: Stephen Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
Thompson has looked like his vintage self in those victories, shooting a combined 27-of-49 from the field, the first three games this season that he made at least half of his shots in a game. He is also a scorching 17-of-27 from 3-point range as the Warriors look to get out of their early-season funk.
Stephen Curry has not experienced any struggles this season that Thompson has gone through. The two-time MVP is playing at that level once again as he has been by far the team’s best player, carrying them through the first 19 games of the season.
He has picked up all of the slack as he is having an incredible season. As pointed out by StatMuse, it is truly jaw-dropping the production that Curry is providing the team. Curry is averaging 31.6 points, which is second in the NBA, with 7.2 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
LATEST NBA NEWS & STATS: Stephen Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
His efficiency has been through the roof as he is on pace to join the 50/40/90 club for the second time in his career as he is shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the 3-point line and 90.3 percent from the foul line. The points, rebounds, assists and 3-point shooting percentage are all leading the Warriors.
Given the expectations of the franchise, it is hard to imagine things being worse than they are right now. However, if Curry wasn’t playing at this level, it would be difficult to pick out any games that they would have won decisively.
LATEST NBA NEWS & STATS: Stephen Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
Kerr is finding places to rest Curry, but if the Warriors want to contend and compete at the level they know they are capable of, his teammates need to start producing at a higher level. A one-man show isn’t going to get Golden State to the promised land they have reached in four out of the last eight years.
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