Six observations from the season's first quarter

Thorpe on Warriors/Suns, Tatum, Siakam, Lakers, Valanciunas, 76ers’ defense

BY DAVID THORPE

A quarter of the way through the 2021-2011 season, David Thorpe has six observations:

Stop Stephen Curry and you stop the Warriors, right? Thanks to the evolution of Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Otto Porter, and others, it’s just not true anymore. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES SPORT

1. The Warriors’ offense is more than Stephen Curry

The Suns won Tuesday’s battle between the two best teams of the young season. Stephen Curry had one of the worst shooting nights of his career, so that was that, right? The Warriors have one key to their offense, and the Suns stopped it. 

In examining the video, I’d say: Wrong on both counts.

The teams’ rematch on Friday will test my theory, but I doubt the Suns have discovered anything durable about stopping Curry. The Athletic's Anthony Slater documented how the Suns did a nice job finding Curry early, staying attached, and not fouling. (He attempted only one free throw.) Thanks to defenders like DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges, they are a …