When you’re the first team in NBA history to ring up a 66-7 record after 73 games, there’s little doubt you’re a dominant team. And that’s what the Golden State Warriors are right now.
But there’s another way to look at it: You can’t get to 66-7 without getting a few breaks along the way. Yes, it’s always a slippery slope when you start to talk about games a team should have won or could have won. But this year the Warriors have been remarkable in very close games, and have seemingly won every game they “should have” or “could have” lost. Even great teams lose a few close games a season.
But you could make a case the Warriors have only lost one game this year they had a shot at winning — at Denver on Jan. 13. In that game, without Draymond Green, the Warriors came storming back from seven down with a minute left and wound up with Klay Thompson getting a look at a 25-footer that could have won it. Other than that, it’s been all Warriors in tight ones.
Obviously, if you’re a Warriors fan, you’re thinking: That’s what great teams do; win the close games. And there’s no arguing that. But if you’re looking for a reason to be critical of the Warriors, here are some of the games the Warriors “should have” or “could have” lost — and they won them all:
Matt Steinmetz 