Last week was all about the Golden State Warriors, who rode upon a double digit win streak. This week is not any different. The Warriors have now won 14 straight and hope to make it 15 on Saturday, when they face the Dallas Mavericks. Klay Thompson led the Warriors to a comfortable victory over the Timberwolves on Monday, and it was Thompson who came up big again, with 21 points to come back against the Rockets on Wednesday. Golden State pulled away for its largest lead of the game in the final stretch of 2 minutes, playing clutch basketball and great defense.
Injuries have plagued many teams in the Western Conference, with the likes of Andrew Bogut, Dwight Howard, and DeMarcus Cousins, all out for their teams. Each has been a major factor in the success of their teams, especially Cousins, who has been out with viral meningitis. Playing without their star big man, the Kings dropped one to the Lakers on Tuesday and a close one against the Rockets on Thursday. Bogut and Dwight have been crucial as defensive anchors for the Warriors and Rockets, respectively. Both team’s defenses were exposed in games this week.
Oklahoma City seems to be progressing with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook looking more comfortable each game. The Thunder beat Milwaukee 114-101 on Tuesday night and followed up on Thursday with a confident win over the LeBron James-less Cavaliers. Westbrook and Durant have allowed Serge Ibaka to move to his natural power forward position, taking pressure off Ibaka to be the main scoring threat.
Blake Griffin, who scored 45 points, including the game winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer, in a 121-120 double overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns, gets my nod for player of the week. He cooled off a bit on Wednesday, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, to cap a balanced Clippers performance in a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The dud of the week? It would definitely have to be the New York Knicks, who were defeated by the Spurs, without its top 4 scorers. In addition, reports suggested internal problems within the Knicks organization, from a supposed rift between Carmelo Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr., to Knicks players not appreciating the triangle system, implemented by president Phil Jackson and coach Derek Fisher.
Photo Credit: Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group