The NBA playoffs are looking mighty competitive this season, as lower-seeded teams look like they’re ready to give the big dogs a tough road and maybe sneak a series win. And while the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns have already been upset, the Golden State Warriors are handling business ins style against the depleted Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors struggled with injuries all season, and their best line-up barely ever got to take the floor together, but now that Steph Curry has returned, their new ‘death line-up’ has made appearances in both their playoff games so far. The core of Steph, Klay, and Draymond bolstered by Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins has so far been an unstoppable 5-man wrecking crew when on the court against the Nuggets.
Poole’s scoring is incredible, while Curry looks to have found his stroke again as well. Green is a top playmaker and amazing defender, while Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins can guard most people and knock down shots of their own, it’s the perfect 2K line-up too, according to Kyle Kuzma. In the short while these five have been on the court together, they are statistically unbelievable on both ends of the floor.
The Warriors’ new death lineup vs Denver this series:
204.3 offensive rating
75.0 defensive rating
Insane 🤯
(Via @anthonyVslater | 📸 @chanodesigns ) pic.twitter.com/jqnFI1204G
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 19, 2022
An offensive rating of over 200 at 204.3 is hard enough to believe as it is, but a defensive rating of just 75 is just as impressive, if not more. The Warriors can go on stifling runs with this line-up, something that is invaluable in the playoffs. The core also has championship know-how, with 3 rings to their name, everything is coming together at the right time to potentially make another run for the title.
The Denver Nuggets are currently not a great opponent though, injuries and a long season finally seem to have taken their toll on them, and even Nikola Jokic’s brilliance has not been enough to give them a chance at winning so far. That may change once they get to Denver, but it certainly looks like the Warriors’ talents, and their excellent new line-up might be too tough to overcome.
