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The NBA has made it to the All-Star break. Players who have dominated in the first half of the season are recognized as the best of the best, while other players are using this time to vacation with family or enjoy the festivities as a spectator.
This weekend is all about the hard work players have put in during the first portion of the season, and that's what we're going to break down with regard to the Golden State Warriors.
We can talk about the emergence of first-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins, the perfect fit that Otto Porter Jr. has been and much more. We're only going to talk about three that have impacted the Warriors heavily, so let's get to it.
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3 takeaways from Stephen Curry, Warriors' first-half of the season
The development of young players
The Warriors have done an amazing job of pursuing an NBA title while making sure their newest assets are getting the attention they deserve.
Jordan Poole was great as a starter, also succeeding now that he's coming off the bench. He's averaging 16.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. His game has expanded and he's becoming more than just a scorer.
When it comes to rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, both players have had their moments to shine. Whether it's making key plays alongside Curry and company or dominating the G-League, both have shown improvements. They are completely different players now compared to when the season started, and you can expect them to grow more in the next part of the season.
The Warriors' next-man-up mentality
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The Warriors have had players in and out of the lineup all season long, whether due to injury, health and safety protocols or personal reasons. No matter who is out of the lineup, the player whose number has been called to replace him has stepped up.
Twelve different players have started in multiple games for Golden State this season, including Kuminga and Moody. When you have players in and out of the rotation, it's usually hard to build chemistry and your team struggles. However, that hasn't been the case for the Dubs. They all fit well together and they've been really good.
The Warriors managed to get to the All-Star break with the second-best record in the NBA while missing key players for most of the season. Klay Thompson has missed 43 games this season, Draymond Green has missed 25 and James Wiseman has yet to play a game. The Warriors are actual proof that there is strength in numbers, and that's why they keep finding ways to win.
Stephen Curry's shooting slump
This season has been strange for everyone, but it's especially odd for the Warriors' two-time MVP. Curry passed Ray Allen on the all-time made three-pointers made list in mid-December, making him No. 1 among all the other greats.
Even before surpassing Allen, Curry entered a shooting slump that hasn't quite ended. The three-time champion is shooting under 40% from deep for the first time in his career. Somehow, his shooting struggles haven't impacted the Dubs' record much.
The Warriors finished the first half of the season 42-17 with Curry in this disastrous slump. That should be encouraging to Warriors fans because all slumps end at some point. Despite his relative shooting woes, Curry was elite before the All-Star break. He's averaging 25.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Baby-Faced Assassin was selected as an All-Star starter and remains in the MVP conversation, so overall things have been good for Curry and his squad.
