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There is no team in the NBA who has the embarrassment of riches the Golden State Warriors have. Sure, teams such as the 76ers, Thunder, Celtics etc. have made moves to counter what the Warriors have built. But their signing of DeMarcus Cousins this past summer just opened an entirely new can of worms.
So far, on paper the Warriors Big Five has worked out well since Cousins made his debut Jan. 18. Before this past Saturday night against the Rockets, the Warriors were 11-1 with their notorious starting lineup. While Cousins hasn't exhibit efficient basketball, he made a conscious effort to make the right passes and showed hustle and played within their system. For a high-strung team like the Warriors, this worked in their favor.
But Saturday night's (Feb. 23) loss to the Rockets may have rung a few alarms. For one, the Rockets are always emotionally available to play the Warriors. They have been their arch-rival the past two seasons, and while they have figured them out via the regular season, their Game 7 loss last Spring has left a bitter taste in their mouth. So they will always gear up for a matchup against the Warriors and the Warriors must learn to counter that.
But the biggest alarm of Saturday night's loss was whether or not the Warriors have clarity amongst their starting lineup. This is an important question simply because the Rockets soundly defeated the Warriors without James Harden. Chris Paul went on a solo mission without his costar, scoring 23 points while dishing out 17 assists. It appeared that the Rockets clearly understood that Paul was in charge. They were to move as he moved.
While the Warriors employ a pace and space system, Steph Curry, in theory, is their go-to player. But since the signing of Kevin Durant, that hasn't always been the case. As evident from the few games of the Western Conference Finals last season, Durant took the initiative of scoring on his own. Naturally, he scored points in bunches, but it was a detriment to his team, as they stared down a 3-2 hole.
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And when you add in the scoring talents of Cousins and Klay Thompson (Draymond Green is more facilitator) it can make finding clarity of who the offense is run through that much more difficult. The Rockets hierarchy starts with Harden and Paul, then Eric Gordon, Clint Capella and the rest of the team follows. As a spectator, there will be little doubt which players will lead the charge offensively. For the Warriors, though, each game night presents a different story.
So do the Warriors have a legit issue at hand? Not necessarily, but Saturday night could be an indication of what could happen in the future if clarity isn't in concrete. Four of their five starters can take the game over if they felt compelled to. While Curry is their leader, Durant is every bit as good and he has the accolades to prove it.
The best remedy for this situation is for the Warriors to remember the selfless brand that they built over the years. The same brand they cultivated that would bring Durant and Cousins to the Bay Area. The same brand that turned the league on its head and forced the Thunder, Celtics and the Rockets to write checks to acquire talent to compete with them. When the Warriors execute their style of play, they are nearly impossible to slow down.
But as evident from their loss to Houston, establishing consistent clarity is an easier concept in theory than an action. The Warriors have the firepower to defeat any team soundly. But, they also have too much firepower that could possibly cause confusion in the playoffs. Houston may have given teams such as the Thunder the true blueprint to beat the Warriors. Things just work better with less combustion and more freedom.
In the end, the Warriors have the best players, coach, and system so they have ample time and resources to figure out any issue that could cripple them. The problem they have is a good problem: it could become a beautiful thing to witness if done right. But, if their road to a three-peat don't go as planned, it could be an ugly nightmare and sad sight to see.
