Naero
11-27-2015, 05:20 AM
With a few scares along the road but an overall-blazing start to the season, the Warriors have set a record-breaking 16-0 start; consequently, many see this as a precursor to breaking the 72-10 record notched by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls—led by the acclaimed GOAT in Michael Jordan. The ceiling understandably feels limitless at this time; but for gradualists, there are baby steps along the way to be micro-analyzed.
Many can only help to wonder where this record-breaking start will end; I'm venturing as far as to entertain whether they will make more history as a byproduct of extending this already-historical start? As they made history against the Lakers with their sixteenth win on a currently blemishless record, what if they eclipse that historically illustrious franchise's 33-0 winning streak set in 1971-72?
Giving a perfunctory look at their schedule (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2016_games.html) up to the juncture of 34 games, what opponent do you project is the most likely to thwart their chances of extending this winning streak to the record-breaking 34-win mark?
Most envision the Cavaliers as the eventual terminators of this winning streak; I'll be the contrarian and dissent from that.
Considering how short-handed the reigning Eastern Conference champions are and may continue to be on that anticipated Christmas-day match-up, I expect them to be worked exhaustively by the best small-ball lineup in the league amid of the most raucous road crowds they'll ever play in—at one of the most raucous home crowds in the NBA who's motivated to see them beat a healthier—albeit, not sweepingly healthy—Cavaliers team to make a statement against all detractors who've been downplaying their team's Finals win against them. The Cavaliers will likely keep it interestingly competitive until midway through the second half, but I expect them to eventually burn out once the fatigue catches up to them—similar to the last-three games of the NBA Finals after the small-ball adjustments.
I'm more predictive of the Pacers ending this streak. They'll catch the Warriors midway through an arduous 7-game road win, Paul George's improvements have led this team to overachieving expectations, and they seem to have a viable small-ball lineup themselves that won't be drastically outpaced in the marathon as other opponents tend to be.
The first chance to extend their current record en route to the next one starts tonight against the Phoenix Suns, and I'm hoping the lethargizing Turkey Day meals don't catch up to the Warriors the worst as they try to extend it.
Many can only help to wonder where this record-breaking start will end; I'm venturing as far as to entertain whether they will make more history as a byproduct of extending this already-historical start? As they made history against the Lakers with their sixteenth win on a currently blemishless record, what if they eclipse that historically illustrious franchise's 33-0 winning streak set in 1971-72?
Giving a perfunctory look at their schedule (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2016_games.html) up to the juncture of 34 games, what opponent do you project is the most likely to thwart their chances of extending this winning streak to the record-breaking 34-win mark?
Most envision the Cavaliers as the eventual terminators of this winning streak; I'll be the contrarian and dissent from that.
Considering how short-handed the reigning Eastern Conference champions are and may continue to be on that anticipated Christmas-day match-up, I expect them to be worked exhaustively by the best small-ball lineup in the league amid of the most raucous road crowds they'll ever play in—at one of the most raucous home crowds in the NBA who's motivated to see them beat a healthier—albeit, not sweepingly healthy—Cavaliers team to make a statement against all detractors who've been downplaying their team's Finals win against them. The Cavaliers will likely keep it interestingly competitive until midway through the second half, but I expect them to eventually burn out once the fatigue catches up to them—similar to the last-three games of the NBA Finals after the small-ball adjustments.
I'm more predictive of the Pacers ending this streak. They'll catch the Warriors midway through an arduous 7-game road win, Paul George's improvements have led this team to overachieving expectations, and they seem to have a viable small-ball lineup themselves that won't be drastically outpaced in the marathon as other opponents tend to be.
The first chance to extend their current record en route to the next one starts tonight against the Phoenix Suns, and I'm hoping the lethargizing Turkey Day meals don't catch up to the Warriors the worst as they try to extend it.