Like L.A., Golden State has had some younger players emerge in recent weeks. But their up-and-comers aren't just young relative to the stars already on the roster. Podziemski turns 21 this month, and Kuminga just passed that mark in October.
For the entire season, the Warriors are plus-5.7 points per 100 possessions when both are on the floor. And Green's suspension and injuries to CP3 and Gary Payton II sort of forced coach Steve Kerr's hand to play them more during the team's resurgence.
Over his past nine games, Podziemski is averaging a well-rounded 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 threes while shooting 40.0 percent from deep. Over Kuminga's past 16 appearances, he's putting up 21.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from three.
Neither is doing things that seem unsustainable. There's less evidence of the downside with these two as there is with Russell, Reaves and Hachimura (all of whom have shakier, yearslong track records). Twenty-one-year-olds being on the way up is far from surprising.
Something of a plateau wouldn't be shocking either, but they're absolutely on the right side of the developmental curve.
Ultimately, though, what their breakouts have facilitated is a return to supernova form for Curry, and he's the ultimate reason for hope for this organization.
Over his past 12 games, Curry is averaging 32.3 points, 6.7 threes (!) and 5.3 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from three.
That kind of production probably is unsustainable, but even if Curry can maintain even around 90 percent of that output, and Podziemski and Kuminga continue their ascents, it'll be tough to deny the Warriors a playoff spot.
