But it is the bench that has the Warriors sniffing a top-four seed in the West. Last season, things got 
so bad that Jackson actually started five rookies in one game. This season, he has been able to call upon forward Carl Landry (13.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and combo guard Jarrett Jack (9.9 ppg, 4.6 apg), two veterans who simply know how to play.
“A big difference this year was getting Draymond (Green), Carl and Jarrett,” Lee said. “That has given us some depth.”
About to embark on a long road trip, the Warriors lost at home to Orlando, wasting a chance to complete a 4-0 homestand and sounding the alarms of seasons past. With their newfound demeanor and approach, they shook it off and won the first three games of the trip, including a stop in Brooklyn that left Jackson very satisfied.
Golden State visits slumping Charlotte on Monday night. If the Warriors win that game – or any of its remaining stops in Orlando, Miami or Atlanta – they will have a winning road trip of at least seven games for the first time since 1970, when Nate Thurmond and Jerry Lucas were protecting the paint.
But Thompson and his teammates are too concerned with the present to worry about ancient history.
“We have one agenda – to win and make a deep run in the playoffs,” he said.
TRIVIA: Which team has the longest run of consecutive playoff appearances in NBA history? Answer below.
THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT: In an effort to generate more positive coverage about himself, Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams has his own beat reporter who is fully credentialed by the team.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, on the scrutiny the team faces as defending champions:
“It’s a little earlier than expected, but we knew there were going to be different challenges this year. Controversy, adversity, whatever ‘ersity’ you want to use.”
LINE OF THE WEEK: Joakim Noah, Chicago at Detroit, Dec. 7: 43 minutes, 12-19 FGs, 6-7 FTs, 10 offensive rebounds, 23 total rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks, two turnovers, 30 
points in a 108-104 win. We did not ignore Zach Randolph’s 38-22 monster or Juice Mayo cracking open a 40. But Noah had career highs in both points and rebounds and became just the third player in team history to have a 30-20-5 game. None of those players is named Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen.
LINE OF THE WEAK: Andre Iguodala, Denver at Atlanta, Dec. 5: 38 minutes, 2-10 FGs, 1-4 3-pointers, 0-1 FTs, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, seven turnovers, five points in a 108-104 loss. Dre matched a season low in shooting percentage and established a season high for turnovers.
TRILLION WATCH: Last season, Memphis forward Quincy Pondexter somehow posted an 11 trillion, which is nearly impossible. This season, Pondexter appears intent on outdoing himself. In Saturday’s loss to Atlanta, he played 20 minutes and had zeros everywhere except rebounds (2) and fouls (4). Not a trillion, of course, but a stunning lack of effort given his minutes. As far as true trillions go, Orlando’s DeQuan Jones, New York’s Chris Copeland, Miami’s James Jones and Atlanta’s Anthony Tolliver all had 3 trillions, leaving them well short of season leader Josh Childress of Brooklyn and his 8 trillion masterpiece on Nov. 15.
i think it depends on which side of flint you live on. If you live west of flint, I -475 ploabbry doesnt help you much. But living on the north end or east side like myself I dont use I 75 hardly at all, i rarely maybe twice a year go to miller road. There is so much traffic especially when people are coming and going from up north. Unless you are in your 50’s or older you ploabbry dont even remember Flint without I475 and have become acustom to using it and unless you work downtown or go to college downtown most people in the suburbs dont go to flint and getting rid of the highway isnt going to bring more people downtown. Fix the crime rate first if you want more people to visit downtown Flint. You may not have Buick anymore but now you have the colleges and the highway is still much needed.
An good, experienced NBA writer does not say things like “Last season, things got so bad that Jackson actually started five rookies in one game.” You know full well that the Warriors were in heavy TANK mode to keep their draft pick. That doesn’t support your argument – it just makes you look foolish.
@A.J. Did you expect the Cavs to be good? If so, you might be the only one.
I can’t say you are wrong regarding Golden State being the biggest surprise, but my vote would be for the Bobcats. I realize as of right now they are not in the playoffs, but the fact that they have been competitive is shocking.
The Bobcats have been surprising, but the qualification was the BEST team flying under the radar. And with the possible exception of Atlanta, I think that team has been Golden State. Thanks for reading
Headline says biggest not best!
I’m just being jerk, I get what you are saying. And for best surprise I would agree, it is Golden State.
But besides the Lakers, who is the biggest team letdown? Pacers?
Nah. The biggest surprise are the Cleveland Cavaliers being this bad. How is it possible for one guy to leave, and then absolutely no improvement since their 26-game losing streak season. Can’t even blame Irving being “hurt” (with a minor injury on a finger on a non-shooting hand, but they’re looking to tank again so they’re sitting him), they were 2-8 before he sat. It’s like a poor man’s Sacramento over there.