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 Rather, they are focused on trying to be better than last year.
That quest is off to a rousing success.
The Warriors recorded their fourth consecutive double-digit victory
to start the season, a first in franchise history, blitzing the
Memphis Grizzlies in the second and third quarters Monday night en
route to a 119-69 win.
Point guard Stephen Curry poured in 21 of his game-high 30 points
during a 40-15 third-period flurry that ensured the Warriors'
franchise-record 20th consecutive regular-season home victory dating
back to January.
"We know what it takes," said Warriors power forward Draymond Green,
a key force on both ends of the floor in dealing Memphis its worst
loss in franchise history.
"I don't think anyone's intimidated by us. Nor should they be. We
just raised our level. We can't wait until March or April."
The Warriors dominated play at both ends of the court, shooting 51.2
percent from the field while limiting the Grizzlies to 27.1 percent
in a rematch of last year's Western Conference playoff semifinals,
which Golden State won 4-2.
"Effort and focus," Curry cited as the keys to victory. "We made
multiple efforts (defensively) on each possession, forcing them into
tough shots.
"When you make a team like this take tough shots and limit them to
one shot, we can push the transition and get it to our pace. That's
the formula to beat these guys. And we were able to execute it."
The Warriors (4-0) trailed 22-21 after one period before crushing
the Grizzlies (2-2) with 32-12 and 40-15 quarters, opening as much
as a 46-point lead before the third period ended.
"Just a bad game overall," said Grizzlies power forward Zach
Randolph, who missed seven of his nine shots and was limited to four
points. "(Golden State) is a championship team, but they're not 40,
50 points better than us. We know that."
In recording their first win by 50 or more points since 1991, the
Warriors led just 27-26 in the fourth minute of the second period
before completely taking charge of the game.
First, Green contributed five points, including a 3-pointer, to a
13-1 run that opened a 13-point advantage. The Grizzlies missed 12
consecutive shots during a drought that lasted a little more than
six minutes.
Then, after shooting guard Courtney Lee finally connected for
Memphis at the 2:43 mark of the period, the Warriors rebounded with
an 11-3 flurry to end the half, exploding the advantage to 53-34.
Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson bombed in a pair of
3-pointers in the run.
Then Curry took over.
The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week hit three
consecutive 3-pointers and seven of eight shots in all in the third
period, helping the Warriors take a 93-49 advantage into the fourth.
"We want to take it to the next level on offense and defense," Green
said. "In order to do that, we have to take it to the next level
with our intensity. We're trying to get to that next level."
Curry finished with three steals, two assists and a blocked shot in
the third quarter in a performance similar to his 28-point,
third-quarter display during a 53-point night Saturday in New
Orleans.
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"I think Steph always has it going," Warriors interim coach Luke
Walton said. "He's our point guard, and he's trying to lead the
team. I believe if he wanted to score massive amounts of points, he
could do it every single night."
Curry, who sat out the fourth period, shot 10-for-16 overall and
4-for-8 on threes. His 30 points came in 28 minutes.
The Warriors connected on 11 of their 25 3-point attempts. They
outrebounded the Grizzlies 65-44, recording a franchise-record 55
boards on the defensive end.
Thompson finished with 14 points, and center Festus Ezeli recorded
an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Green was on triple-double
pace with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists before getting
the fourth quarter off.
Warriors backup guard Ian Clark scored all 15 of his points in the
fourth quarter as Golden State opened as much as a 52-point lead.
Center Marc Gasol had 13 points and nine rebounds -- both team highs
-- for the Grizzlies, who opened an eight-day, five-game Western
swing.
"I hate losing, and losing like this is even worse," Gasol said. "It
hurts. It should hurt your feelings. It hurt mine definitely. But
we've got to believe in what we're doing, and hopefully we'll figure
it out."
Memphis plays at Sacramento on Tuesday night.
Despite missing six of his eight shots, point guard Mike Conley
added 10 points for the Grizzlies, who had won two in a row since
losing their opener to Cleveland.
The Grizzlies missed 20 of their 23 3-point attempts.
NOTES: The Warriors' 100-point total margin of victory in their
first four games is an all-time NBA record, surpassing the 99-point
margin put up by the 1961-62 Boston Celtics. ... The Warriors have
won just three games by 50 or more points in franchise history. ...
Golden State's last win by 50 or more points occurred exactly 24
years earlier -- Nov. 2, 1991 -- against the Sacramento Kings. ...
Warriors PG Stephen Curry was selected the Western Conference Player
of the Week for games through Sunday. He scored 118 points during
Golden State's 3-0 start. ... Golden State GM Bob Myers said before
the game that he made formal offers to SF Harrison Barnes and C
Festus Ezeli well ahead of the midnight deadline for contract
extensions for 2012 first-round draft picks. No agreements were
expected. ... Grizzlies SF Vince Carter, who was originally drafted
by the Warriors, played in his 1,215th NBA game, moving into 31st
place on the all-time list. He had three points in 16 minutes.
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