After annihilating the Cavaliers on Monday night in Cleveland, the Warriors officially are one game into the second half of the season. Somehow, despite numerous nicks and bruises to the head coach and a few players, they own the NBA’s best record.
Which means our midseason report card, submitted alphabetically, puts the defending champions, collectively, on the honors list.
We grade on a curve, considering such factors as general role on the team, recent history and overall health.
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Key -- A: exceeding expectations. B: Solid. C: Average. D: Below average: F: How do you stay on this team?
PLAYERS
Backup shooting guard Leandro Barbosa (13th season): Even missing nearly one-third of the schedule (13 games) with injuries and other reasons, LB generally delivered what’s required of a fourth or fifth guard. He scores and, moreover, he pushes pace, precisely as the coaching staff desires. Grade: B.
Starting small forward Harrison Barnes (fourth season): He has started fewer than half the games, missing 16 with a sprained ankle and coming off the bench for seven upon being cleared. He continues to be two players, one very good and integral to the team’s success and the other making almost no impact. Grade: B.
Golden State Warriors
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Starting big man Andrew Bogut (11th season): He still doesn’t pile up big numbers on offense, but he’s very efficient with his scoring and very valuable in his role as a screener and passer. His defensive impact continues to be elite. His minutes are down (21 per game), which helps keep him healthy. Grade: B-plus.
Reserve combo guard Ian Clark (third season): After arriving at training camp hoping to make the team, he is getting occasional rotation minutes. He’s a dangerous scorer who is capable of filling either guard spot. We doubt there is a more reliable fourth guard on any team – and he’s fifth guard on this one. Grade: B-plus.
Starting point guard Stephen Curry (seventh season): Preposterously good for the first six weeks, he is the most captivating player in the NBA. His shooting touch has slipped from superhero to marvelous. We understand why his assist totals are down, but that assist-to-turnover ratio (1.85) needs to improve. Grade: A-minus.
Reserve big man Festus Ezeli (fourth season): He continues to improve at both ends, most notably on offense, where he has become a viable option on the block. Yes, teammates actually look to feed Festus. Meanwhile, his defensive impact remains excellent, very similar to that of Bogut. Grade: A-minus.
Starting power forward Draymond Green (fourth season): Defending, scoring, rebounding and playmaking, he keeps inventing ways to help his team and punish opponents. He deserves to start the All-Star Game not only because he's an indispensible part of the league’s best team, but also because he’s an MVP candidate. Grade: A.
Sixth Man Andre Iguodala (12th season): The only Warrior to play in all 42 games, he stabilizes the offense and disrupts on defense. His 3-point shot was sweet through the first month but has declined. Yet he finds ways to hurt opponents urging him to shoot. He gets points for neutralizing LeBron. Grade: A-minus.
Reserve guard Shaun Livingson (12th season): A key to the second unit. A dangerous post-up presence, shooting 50 percent and owning the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team, he has been the ideal third guard – on offense. His defense, however, has slipped below his standard. Grade: A-minus.
Reserve forward Kevon Looney (rookie): After hip surgery in August, he spent four months in recovery and rehab. Though he was with the team most of that time, only in the past week has he begun activities with D-League Santa Cruz. Grade: Inc.
Reserve power forward James Michael McAdoo (second season): He rarely plays, but is effective in brief stints. He has no discernable shot, so he uses energy to make an impact. He has missed the last three weeks with a sprained toe. Grade: B.
Reserve wing Brandon Rush (eighth season): After three seasons lost to injury and ineffectiveness, he is back and valuable to the cause. He has started most of the games, proving his 3-point shot is back and his defense is coming back. Once he settles into a reserve role, he’ll be a nice shooter off the bench. Grade: A-minus.
Reserve big man Marreese Speights (eighth season): His offseason training regimen, designed to prepare him in a contract year, didn’t work out so well. Because he struggled with his shot – his greatest asset – he struggled to get minutes. He recently has shown signs of recovery but still has a ways to go. Grade: C.
Reserve big man Jason Thompson (eighth season): His season thus far is mostly about leading cheers. He has not been able to crack the rotation, partly because he’s grappling with a new system and partly because he has been losing the grapple. There have been, and will be, instances when he can be utilized. Grade: C.
Starting shooting guard Klay Thompson (fifth season): After a slow first month by his standard due to nagging back soreness, he recovered nicely through most of December and into January, once again looking like an All-Star. He still fires up a few too many forced shots in an offense designed to avoid that. Grade: A-minus.
COACHING STAFF
With head coach Steve Kerr’s absence approaching the three-month mark, the team has wildly exceeded expectations under interim coach Luke Walton. There were games when Kerr was missed and a couple instances when Walton seemed perplexed. Chief assistants Ron Adams and Jarron Collins have by all appearances been stellar. This team is 38-4. Who could have anticipated that? Grade: A.