The Warriors Are Much-Improved Because 200 People in the Organization Didn't Like Mark Jackson

The Golden State Warriors are the best team in the NBA, sitting atop the Association at 17-2 headed into tonight’s game against lowly Minnesota. The Warriors lead the NBA in numerous important categories, including point differential (+10.9). They’ve won 12 straight and finally, people are taking them seriously as an NBA Finals contender.

But the roster is largely the same as last year, and it’s not like the Warriors have played a soft schedule. The big difference lies in the team’s culture, according to team owner Joe Lacob. Despite Mark Jackson’s success as head coach last year – the Warriors won 51 games – nobody in the organization liked him.

"“Part of it was that he couldn’t get along with anybody else in the organization,” Lacob said. “And look, he did a great job, and I’ll always compliment him in many respects, but you can’t have 200 people in the organization not like you.”"

That’s brutal. How could someone hire Jackson again when his last boss came out and said nobody liked him? How long will that stench cling to Jackson?

Besides the Jackson-for-Steve Kerr swap, I think you’ve got to look to the unbelievable improvement of Draymond Green. A 2nd round steal in the 2012 draft out of Michigan State, Green was a reserve his first two years in the league, but he’s started every game this season and his stats have been phenomenal: 46 percent from the field, 37.9 percent on 3-pointers, and Dick Vitale would say he stuffs the stat sheet: 13.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg.

The Warriors start a center (Bogut) and four guys who can make 3-pointers in Curry, Klay Thompson, Green and Harrison Barnes. Three of those four are shooting over 40 percent from deep.

Here’s Green dropping 31 on the Bulls Saturday night:

Green might be the best steal in the NBA right now: He’s only making $915k. He’s a free agent next summer.