Are the Stephen Curry Led Golden State Warriors Exceeding Expectations?

The Golden State Warriors had the worst start to the season possible. During the off-season, they lost Klay Thompson, their second-best player, to injury for a second successive season.

He was ruled out for the entire season, and that’s when everyone predicted that Warriors would struggle to establish their dominance in the west.

According to ESPN, an Eastern Conference executive said, “I think they have almost no shot at the playoffs. Unless Draymond has a renaissance, Steph might be everything that he’s ever been, and they still might not make the playoffs.”

In fact, an ESPN preseason preview ranked the Warriors at the 14th spot in the West. They gave the Warriors just a 9% chance to make the playoffs and predicted them to win around 31 games.

But after 22 games played, the Warriors hold the seventh seed in the West with a 12-10 record. So, how are they outdoing expectations?

MVP-level Stephen Curry

Curry is currently averaging 28.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. This is his second-best points per game tally for his career. The 32-year-old has been carrying their offense and has had a phenomenal return after playing just five games in the previous season.

Curry is proving all predictions wrong, which said he won’t be able to lead their offense without Klay. He obviously has other players chipping in, but Steph is doing a wonderful job leading them.

Draymond Green orchestrating the Warriors

In the first four games, the Warriors were scrambling on both ends. They looked confused on offense and had no clue how to get the best out of Curry.

Defense wasn’t any better, and the lack of a leader hurt them. They somehow managed two wins against the Bulls and Pistons, but the Bucks and the Nets pummelled them.

However, things changed when Draymond Green arrived. He was the leader they needed, and he took charge, orchestrating their offense, while also leading their defense. The Warriors have been playing a lot more organized since his arrival.

These two factors are the major reasons the Warriors are in a playoff spot now. The resurgence of Andrew Wiggins, the recent form of Kelly Oubre Jr and the impressive rookie displays from James Wiseman have also helped their campaign.

For a team expected to finish second-last, they have been brilliant. The season isn’t over yet, but if they carry this momentum, they will ruin a lot of predictions.