It has been a while since we have seen these Warriors. The ones that make the game look effortless, as if their opponents were stationary cones in a practice gym rather than the best long-limbed athletes in the world. These Warriors that can turn a ho-hum effort into an electric five-minute blitz of threes, layups and forced turnovers: I have missed these guys. These Warriors that have lost only once in 26 games.

December 16, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Here are 10 thoughts on the game:

  1. After a three-day break, the Warriors came out of the gates scattered, missing open shots and beating themselves on unforced turnovers (nine in the first half). Phoenix went up by as many as seven points in the first quarter and took a two-point lead into the second. Then a familiar occurrence finally returned: a cavalcade of Warriors hitting ridiculous shots, scoring in transition, and driving into the lane. In a span of four minutes, the Dubs went on a 21-4 run in the second quarter to break open what had been a tight game.
  2. Stephen Curry surprised everyone by missing two consecutive free throws in the third quarter. Those were just about the only shots he and faux-sibling Splash Brother Klay Thompson missed in the period. Klay went for 27 fire-breathing points in the 12-minute session and Steph chipped in 13 on a series of threes and open layups. At one point the Warriors backcourt duo had outscored the entire Suns team 62-61.
  3. Golden State outscored Phoenix 79-37 in the second and third quarters. They had 105 going into the fourth. On certain nights, the wave comes crashing and opponents should probably just find shelter on the bench.
  4. Did you see Klay’s merry-go-round, corkscrew three on Devin Booker? That wasn’t just nasty, that was Steph-like.

    December 16, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

    Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

  5. Draymond Green had the most Draymond Green game of all time. In only 31 minutes he collected a triple double along with 5 steals and a block… aaaand all the shine goes to the Splash Brothers.
  6. Andrew Bogut must have found the Suns defense inadequate and wanted to make things more difficult on his own. What a silly pass and a sillier shot. I think I like this team more than I like most of my friends.
  7. The Suns have two score-first point guards in their starting back court and promising 19-year-old rookie Devin Booker at backup shooting guard. Booker, though slight, has the length and shooting stroke of a prototypical NBA two (6’6″, 51% FG, 17-27 on threes). Sounds like a mini version of the Steph-Monta-Klay dilemma. Eric Bledsoe might want to rent instead of buy the next two years.
  8. After Steph hit Jon Leuer with a couple of dribbles for a step-back three, Mark Jackson hit the viewers with “that should be against the Leuer.” Any other announcer and I would find that cheesy, but coming from Mark, I chuckled. I like Jackson as announcer a lot and sometimes even during Warriors games.
  9. After Markieff Morris demanded a trade during the off-season, the Suns hit him with a $10K fine. This came after he and twin brother Marcus were charged with felony assault. Markieff has five DNP-CDs in a row and will likely be shipped out soon. He’s one of those players “smart” teams love to pick up. Guys who are sought after despite the off-court issues because their production level is above their pay grade. Picking up Makieff makes sense on paper but “paper” does not account for team chemistry. I am glad the Warriors are not one of these teams anymore. I fully expect a team like Houston to go after the talented but troubled Morris.
  10. Draymond admitted recently that the streak was “draining.” After the seven-city-in-13-days stretch, the Warriors play only five games in the next two weeks, all at home. That provides plenty of time to enjoy the holidays, rest and plump up on home cooking — which is exactly what I plan to do. The Rewinds may be a bit sporadic until the New Year. Apologies and happy holidays!  “Momma, there goes that man.”