SUNS

Golden State Warriors hit higher level with 16-0 start

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
November 24, 2015: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Oracle Arena.

The Golden State Warriors’ greatness last season was born out of an outward passion for the game and enjoyment in congregating for success.

They played a beautiful, evolutionary style of basketball that was entertaining enough to being the league’s best traveling show and great enough to make them NBA champions.

How could they ever be better than that team, let alone take it to another level? Enter doubt that they could maintain the level of play, the season-long focus and the unselfishness for chemistry. Add qualifications that they had dodged the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs and caught the Cleveland Cavaliers amid injuries. Consider losing Steve Kerr’s presence with back surgery complications keeping him away from the team and Luke Walton in charge.

It all added for the motivation to be 16-0, the greatest start in NBA history, as the Warriors’ wonderment comes to Phoenix on Friday.

Phoenix Suns can't get past New Orleans Pelicans in home loss

“If you take every guy on that team, every single one of them are extremely hard-working guys,” said New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry, the Warriors associate head coach for the championship season. “I think they needed motivation to try to play. I think when everyone assumed they were lucky to win the championship because they didn’t play certain teams, I think that motivated them to then show that they’re for real. I don’t think there’s any question about that now.”

Not at all.

They are mostly dominating opponents. But have had some scares lately, having to rally from a 23-point hole at the Los Angeles Clippers and watch Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez miss a potential game-winning tip-in.

Here is a snapshot of the Warriors' greatness by the numbers:

33

The NBA consecutive wins record, set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, that seems viable now for Golden State, which has won 20 consecutive regular-season games.

“I mean we're going to play hard and hopefully close in on that record, but it won't be a disappointing effort if we don't get there,” Stephen Curry said on a Wednesday conference call.

72

The NBA record for wins in a season that also seems within reach. The Warriors won 81.7 percent of their games last season. They would have to win 84.8 percent of the remainder of their games this season to have a 72-win season.

100

Wins that Golden State would have since the start of last season if they beat the Suns on Friday.

7

Golden State executives, staffers and players who are former Suns executives, staffers and players.

Warriors break one mark, now set sights on Lakers' all-time record streak

15.6

Average amount of points per game by which the Warriors have outscored their opponents this season. San Antonio is second at 9.2 per game.

87

Number of points that the Warriors’ go-to, crunch-time lineup of Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green has outscored opponents by this season in 62 minutes of court time.

“We're going to use our skill and our athleticism and our shooting and just the different lineups that we can throw out there to help us win games,” Curry said. “And the 3-point shot is definitely something that's more prevalent now than it ever has been. I mean, at the end of the day, you still have to make shots so that's what we're about.”

400

How many 3-pointers Curry would make this season at his current pace. Last season, he made an NBA-record 286 3-pointers. He is playing at a level that could make him a repeat MVP candidate.

“I'm not the most physically dominant person out there,” Curry said. “I'm 6-3, 185 pounds soaking wet, and you try to just be able to do a lot of different things on the court. Being able to dribble with both hands, being able to shoot the ball from inside and outside. Holding your own at the defensive end, and you've got to have heart. That's the biggest thing that we show and demonstrate every night, with our small-ball tenacity, and the way we go out.  It doesn't really matter, really, the next guy if he's taller than me, if he's stronger than me, if he's faster than me. If I have that will and heart to compete, I think more times than not, you'll be successful. So, there is a lot of opportunity in the game of basketball for the shorter guy, and if there wasn't, I wouldn't be in this league.”

Phoenix Suns sign Tucson prep product Bryce Cotton

89

Consecutive games that Curry has made a 3-pointer. With another one Friday, he would have the second-longest streak to Kyle Korver’s NBA record of 127 consecutive games.

4

Times the Warriors have rallied to win after trailing by at least 20 points in 2015.

6

Times that the Suns have ended an opponent's winning streak of 15 or more games. No other NBA team has done it more than three times in league history.

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.

Friday's game

Warriors at Suns

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Warriors update: Golden State (16-0) is off to the best start in NBA history with former University of Arizona player Luke Walton as interim head coach for Steve Kerr, who has been out due to complications from offseason back surgery. MVP Stephen Curry is averaging 31.1 points, 5.9 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game with 51.2 percent shooting from the field, 43.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 94 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Harrison Barnes, in a contract year, has raised his scoring average to 13.8 points per game. With a new contract, Draymond Green is averaging 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds and leads the team in assists with 6.6 per game. Suns Ring of Honor member Steve Nash was hired by Golden State as a part-time player development consultant.