Only four games into the new NBA season and it seems the Golden State Warriors are back in the mix, big time. They lost their home opener to Phoenix, but given their cold shooting as a team, they kept the game close. They've had three away games so far. Last year they lost their first eight. This year they've won all of the first three.
Chris Paul started the first two games, in the absence of the injured Draymond Green. By the second game at Sacramento he was already adjusted to the Golden State motion offense. With Draymond back, he came off the bench for the first time in his storied career against Houston, and led the second team to equal or exceed the starters' in all phases. He did it again in New Orleans the very next night. Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody were impressive, and back to being healthy, Gary Payton II was outstanding. The rookies have gotten some minutes and showed up big, especially in rebounding.
Meanwhile Steph Curry is playing with joy again, and putting up big numbers. He exceeded forty points in two of the four games. In the back-to-back, he scored a total of 66 points in two nights.
It's a long season, and so much depends on avoiding injuries. (But even there this year's team is showing improvement: they won without Draymond in Sacramento, and without Klay and JK in New Orleans.) But so far the Warriors are doing what they need to do to be a championship team: they are winning on the road, and they are beating teams they are supposed to beat.
