Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson have caused a Splash

Two underrated college recruits went from being told they didn't have what it takes to play in the NBA to becoming record-breaking All-Star guards. For Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, their biggest challenge - winning an NBA title - awaits.

Golden State are the best team in the NBA heading into the postseason. Based in Oakland, California, they are one of only 10 teams in NBA history to have ever seen 67 wins in a season. Among 50-win teams, Golden State are the most improved team in the history of the game having picked up 16 more victories this season compared to 2013-14.

It is the first time since 1991-92 that the Warriors have earned a victory over every team in the NBA. Despite breaking over 15 franchise records this season, this is just the beginning for the Dubs, as they seek to carry over their regular season success.

On their incredibly dominant journey, Golden State have shown they can play at an elite level and have secured their first Divisional title in 39 years.

Greatest shooting back-court

In 2009, the West coast team drafted point guard Curry out of little-known university Davidson College. He was labelled "too small" but has since gone on to record three of the five most prolific three-point shooting seasons in NBA history. He accomplished the latest on April 10 by beating his own record against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 45-point, 10-assist game.

The low-key marksman is part of a devastating duo alongside Thompson. With an equally humble personality, Thompson created history against the Sacramento Kings on January 23. The third-year out of Washington State scored 37 points in a single quarter, including nine three-point field goals. More recently, Thompson treated the 123rd consecutive capacity crowd at the raucous Oracle Arena after he scored 26 of the 32 points in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies.

He became the first player to record multiple 25-point quarters this season, a feat only LeBron James achieved last season. A force to be reckoned with, Thompson has had more 40-point games than Curry this season.

Dubbed the 'Splash Brothers', due to their exceptional ability to ripple the net from long range, the sons of former NBA players Dell and Mychal respectively, Curry and Thompson have broken the record for most three-point field goals attempted, and made, by team-mates in a season. The pair have combined for 1,191 attempted threes. Out of the 525 made by the devastating duo, Thompson has accounted for 239 from behind the arc.

The All-Star guards, especially Curry, have developed many areas of their game since last year. Through becoming a better ball handler, Curry has committed 45 less turnovers this year compared to last. The 27-year-old has also increased his effectiveness in the paint. From scoring an average of 20.5% of points in the paint in 2013-14 to 26.3% in 2014-15, Curry has proved to be a threat not just from outside the perimeter.

The biggest improvement in the leading candidate for the NBA MVP is on the defensive end of the court. Until this season, it was the norm to see Curry being hidden on defence, marking guards who possess the least threat. His work in the off-season with the Warriors’ new defensive guru and assistant coach, Ron Adams, means Curry has added a potent element to his game and leads the league in steals made.

Rookie coach

The Splash Brothers are only part of the reason behind the Warriors' meteoric success this season. Backed with an experienced backroom staff, rookie head coach, Steve Kerr, who drilled the Championship winning shot for the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls, has introduced a free-flowing offensive system to the Bay Area team.

Kerr has also created NBA history this season after he recorded the most wins as a first-year head coach. The secret originates from his ability to make each member of the team responsible for putting in valuable minutes on the floor.

His predecessor, Mark Jackson, who played in the league for 17 years, took the Warriors to new heights under his tutelage but placed the onus on the Splash Brothers to constantly lead the team to victory. The pressure on Curry saw him turnover the ball a career-high 294 times last season.

The mantra Kerr has instilled is to look for the best shot on offense, not just the best shooter. A mantra that saw him - and not Michael Jordan - shoot the Championship winner in the '97 NBA Finals. More recently, his starting forward, Harrison Barnes, took the game winning shot against the Phoenix Suns on April 2.

The Warriors were down by one point with 4.5 seconds to go. There was an expectation that Curry or Thompson would be handed the ball. Yet Kerr drew up a play in the preceding timeout that had the Splash Brothers create space for third-year Barnes. He moved inside, fought off the double team and made the winner.

Depth and experience

Team MVP Curry has sat out of 19 fourth quarters this season due to lob-sided score lines. The key that's allowed the Warriors to see through their historic successes is their depth. The secondary unit consists of guards Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa who are in their 10th and 12th years respectively. All-Star forwards David Lee and Andre Iguodala have 10 and 11 years of experience in the league while Speights, nicknamed Mo Buckets due to his shooting prowess this season, is set to complete his seventh year in the NBA. The secondary unit proved themselves against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night in the regular season finale. Tied at 124-124 with less than 90 seconds remaining, the secondary unit closed out the game beating the Nuggets 133-126.

Great stories, however, are born from those who overcome adversity. While Curry and Thompson have overcome their fair share of obstacles, their greatest challenge awaits.    

All stats are from NBA.com/Stats