Warriors' best, worst moments from roller-coaster first half
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As indicated by their 19-18 record, highs and lows came to the Warriors in near equal amounts over the first half of the season.Going into the All-Star break with their first three-game losing streak, the Warriors sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. For the record, ninth place at the end of the regular season requires winning two play-in games to earn a berth in the postseason.So, yes, for the Warriors to achieve their goal avoiding the play-in tournament – which requires at least a No. 6 seed – they need to be appreciably better in the second half.With the 37 games in the books, here is a look at the best and worst of the first half:
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1/10
With the Warriors down 16 at the half and 14 early in the fourth quarter, the defending champs smelled blood. The Warriors didn’t flinch.
Trailing 106-97 with 5:52 left, they closed with an 18-7 run, with four different scorers. They limited LA to 31.9-percent shooting in the quarter, as LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to go 2-of-7.
2/10
Blasted in a rematch against Lakers in LA three days earlier, this was a chance to rinse the bitter taste. A win would give the Warriors the season series, which could be significant for seeding purposes.
Ahead most of the game, by as much as 14, they lost a six-point lead over the final 3:40 by missing eight of 10 shots, including four within the shadow of the hoop.
3/10
In his fourth NBA game, James Wiseman blocked a shot by Pistons center Mason Plumlee, with the loose ball going to Juan Toscano-Anderson, who tipped it back to Wiseman.
The 7-foot-1 center went into guard mode, racing 80 feet, using five dribbles and finishing his gallop with a Euro step punctuated by a dunk. Can you say Giannis? Fans were allowed to dream.
4/10
With the Warriors rolling to an emphatic win over Detroit, Wiseman rose to catch a lob from Draymond Green but while airborne was shoved by Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart. In trying to break his fall, Wiseman sprained his wrist. Just as he was starting to get a feel of the NBA game, he lost three weeks.
5/10
Stephen Curry always gets up for elite opposing point guards, the Warriors had lost to Damian Lillard and the Blazers two nights earlier.
Curry’s response was to drop 21 points in the first quarter and finish with a career-high 62 points in the rematch, shooting 18-of-31 from the field, including 8-of-16 from deep, and 16-of-18 from the line.
6/10
There were many contenders here, but Oubre “wins” because he laid an egg against the team with which he’d spent the previous two seasons. In 26 minutes, he scored four points on 1-of-11 shooting, missing all five of his 3-point attempts. And the Warriors were routed by 21.
7/10
Oubre’s play took a leap after the loss at Phoenix, and the biggest leap came one week later, when he roasted the Mavericks for 40 points in Dallas. Playing 36 minutes, he shot 14-of-21 overall, 7-of-10 from deep and 5-of-6 from the line.
That was the night Oubre convinced the Warriors and their fans that his early-season trouble was history.
8/10
Andrew Wiggins found his game in January, scoring in double figures every game and changing minds. February was not memorable, particularly this game: three points, 1-of-5 shooting in 22 minutes.
His defense, so good most of the season, was ordinary. Worst of all, he was overall a non-factor. This one surely shook the faith of some fans.
9/10
For all the shortcomings attributed to the offense, sharing the ball usually is not one of them. The Warriors lead the NBA in assists, averaging 27.8 per game. Much of this is due to Draymond Green’s fixation with passing.
He’s flipped dimes all over the court. Not all fans are on board with this, but it’s the best way to ensure players stay engaged.
10/10
This was a close contest. Only three times average more personal fouls, only two more have a lower rebounding percentage.
Put them together, and they are major factors in blowing late leads. The Warriors are 4-6 in games decided by five or fewer points, but they’ve lost six of the last seven such games – despite having fourth-quarter leads in three games.