Suddenly, a new team and a new season. Kuminga and Podziemski are starting, Trayce Jackson Davis is getting meaningful minutes and looking like the big man the Warriors need. Saric and Moody continue to make their minutes count, and Chris Paul is thriving by helping them all thrive. With stalwart games by Klay Thompson and now Andrew Wiggins helping Steph Curry on the scoreboard as well as playing better defense, the Warriors won five in a row and held the Nuggets even for most of the game in Denver, despite playing their third game in four nights, off-nights shooting for Steph and Klay, and a huge disparity in foul calls, plus Denver's dependable sixth man: the altitude. The result is a 15-15 record, and in a sense, the season starts here.
The Warriors went on their winning streak without Draymond, without the injured Gary Payton II, and until the Denver game, without much from Wiggins. The streak included a win against Boston, a top tier team in the standings. The offense is finally thriving, and though spotty at times the defense can be thrilling, with blocks from Jackson-Davis and steals from JK.
Coach Kerr has the opportunity to mix and match his lineup choices within games, provided the players (including the vets) totally buy in to fewer minutes and more precise roles. The win streak that included the young players should free him to make decisions based on basketball situations, because no one can argue with winning.
With the next seven games at home, and with Payton and perhaps Draymond becoming available in that stretch, the Warriors have an opportunity to revive their prospects. They've already reinvigorated their season.
