SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 After searching for more than two months, the Warriors are showing significant progress toward curing their most remedy-resistant ailment.<\/p>\n
Golden State\u2019s offense, a source of great concern the first two months of the season, is now exhibiting a strong heartbeat, the brain scans are clear and it\u2019s starting to function as designed. And it\u2019s not a two- or three-game thing. It\u2019s an 11-game span.<\/p>\n
The latest example came Friday night in a 137-103 throttling of Sacramento<\/a>. The Kings are in last place in the NBA Western Conference, yes, but the quality of the opponent doesn\u2019t \u2013 and shouldn\u2019t \u2013 matter to the Warriors, who at three games above .500 (21-18) still are trying to escape mediocrity.<\/p>\n What matters is that the Warriors have won eight of their last 11 games and are starting to look like the team as projected coming out of training camp. Al Horford and De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a>, who signed the week camp opened, have overcome injuries to become healthy and productive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re in a good groove with our rotation, and helps to have the same lineups out there,\u201d coach Steve Kerr said. \u201cTo have Melt and Al both healthy and playing well, it feels like the version of the team that we expected when we signed those guys over the summer. The depth [is great] and we’re just getting into a good groove.\u201d<\/p>\n What matters is that the offense is, for the most part, weaning itself off its worst habit. The Warriors are being smarter with the ball and more intentional in their actions, resulting in them breaking down defenses and lighting up scoreboards.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery team has a belief in themselves until you get smacked in the face; we have been smacked in the face a couple of times this year,\u201d Stephen Curry said. \u201cBut we bounced back.\u201d<\/p>\n The Warriors recorded 35 assists and committed nine turnovers\u00a0before\u00a0Kerr summoned his bench to close the final four minutes against Sacramento. They finished with a season-high 39 dimes, which makes it easier to digest their 11 turnovers.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t mention the word,\u201d Kerr said, referring to his pet peeve. \u201cI just say \u2018hitting singles,\u2019 \u2018be solid.\u2019 Solid wins the game. And I’m not bringing it up anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n The Warriors were, sitting at 13-15 on Dec. 18, their own worst enemy. They were on a bullet train to the outer edge of the NBA play-in tournament.<\/p>\n Now? They have trended from punishing themselves with turnovers to depriving opponents of lazy passes that served as charity.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to walk that fine line like we always say,\u201d Curry said. \u201cI know [Kerr] says that he’s not talking about [turnovers] anymore. But we are very mindful of that being a key to us winning games. Because we do utilize each other more than most teams do, screening, passing, moving bodies, moving the ball. And then if you turn it over, there’s no defense for that.\u201d<\/p>\n