SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On the Golden 1 Middle, the place Golden State’s 2023-24 season ended unceremoniously final April, the Warriors introduced a brand new beginning 5 to their second preseason sport.
Absent from it, after all, was Klay Thompson, who went scoreless within the play-in loss earlier than departing for the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors wish to play sooner and shoot extra 3-pointers, with extra athleticism on the court docket and extra defensive flexibility. They introduced in three new veterans and wish to play with extra construction on offense. Lots of the adjustments head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors wish to implement stem with how final season fizzled.
“I don’t know if it was just that game, I just think the feeling of losing in the play-in and not even making the playoffs is a pretty bitter one,” Kerr stated pregame. “But I think we definitely recognized our flaws last year and they were exposed in that game.”
Though the Warriors appeared extra geared up to deal with Sacramento’s fast-paced type within the first half — when all of the regulars performed — Golden State headed into the second half down 68-66. They hit 15 of their 27 3s, with Buddy Hield (4-for-4), De’Anthony Melton (3-for-6) and Steph Curry (3-for-6) main the long-range cost, however the Kings’ offense matched them by creating factors within the paint.
Golden State saved taking pictures, and draining, 3-pointers as the sport progressed. They hit 28 3-pointers in all, exceeding the regular-season franchise report of 27. Eight Warriors hit at the least two 3-pointers, resulting in a scorching 53.8% clip from behind the arc in a 122-112 victory; in a statistical anomaly, Golden State shot higher from 3 than it did from the ground.
Listed below are three takeaways from the Warriors’ first preseason sport on the mainland, with 4 remaining earlier than the common season.
New starters
Within the Warriors’ first preseason sport, in Hawaii, they began Steph Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, De’Anthony Melton, Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Looney changed Jackson-Davis at heart and Podziemski swapped in for Melton in the second.
Melton performed terrific subsequent to Curry within the opener, however the offense appeared simpler with Podziemski within the group Wednesday (possibly it was Sacramento’s protection, which is anticipated to be poor). Podziemski’s a extra pure initiator and playmaker. On one play, Curry’s isolation went nowhere, however Podziemski ended up with the ball on the wing and fed Inexperienced inside for a straightforward bucket.
Podziemski additionally missed a pair of open 3-pointers that he’s going to want to hit to remain on the ground. With Inexperienced, Looney and Kuminga, spacing is at a premium.
Golden State subbed in Jackson-Davis for Looney after 5 minutes, however the principle core of the beginning unit tied the Kings, 18-18, within the first seven minutes of the sport.
It’s a miniscule pattern dimension, and the same outcome to the preseason opener’s beginning unit, however neither group has jumped off the web page but — merely held their very own.
One notice with beginning Podziemski: with out him coming off the bench, the second unit (Melton, Jackson-Davis, Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson and Moses Moody) didn’t have some extent guard. Staggering minutes within the common season would repair that pretty simply, however the Warriors wish to be sure that each their first and second items are cohesive.
Podziemski (8 factors, 8 assists in 23 minutes) left within the first half after getting hit within the face, however returned within the third quarter to guide the second unit as the purpose guard, driving and dishing whereas additionally working efficient pick-and-rolls.
The preseason is all about experimenting with mixtures, and Kerr’s subsequent transfer simply could be to fit Hield — who completed with a game-high 22 factors on 8-for-9 taking pictures — within the again court docket with Curry. That will maximize their 3-point taking pictures menace, with as shut of a movement-shooting facsimile to Thompson as there may be.
Kings are going to trigger matchup nightly points
There are professional questions on how Sacramento’s new huge three of De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis are going to suit. None of them are nice exterior shooters, and none of them are elite defenders, both.
However seeing them in motion — earlier than they even have time to strike a rhythm — made it fairly clear that they’re going to be scary on offense.
Nearly each possession within the half court docket, both on a drive, backdoor lower or kick-out, the Kings generated an open look. DeRozan sank his first six discipline targets, together with a nook 3, for 15 factors in as many minutes. The speedy Fox engined the Kings in transition and Sabonis operated from the elbows.
DeRozan was successfully the ability ahead, guarding Inexperienced and getting defended by him most possessions. He’s going to be too fast for fours and too expert for smaller defenders. However defenses should select between guarding him and Keegan Murray, a promising stretch-four, with the
It’s a contact sport
Within the second nook, simply after Podziemski hit his first 3-pointer of the night time, he received hit within the face on a Kings quick break and immediately headed to the tunnel. Warriors trainers adopted him.
The sport was performed with a stunning degree of physicality for a preseason bout. Sacramento heart Alex Len fouled Inexperienced from behind after a damaged play, to Inexperienced’s dismay. On the opposite finish, Inexperienced set a tough display screen to free Podziemski for a 3, then he hit his second 3-pointer of the night time on the following possession.
Shortly thereafter, Kuminga fouled Domantas Sabonis on the rim, choosing up his fourth in simply 13 minutes.
With 5 minutes left within the half, the Golden 1 Middle crowd was elated when Inexperienced argued an off-ball foul referred to as on him in opposition to Sabonis.
Tempers by no means bubbled over, however this sport — like Friday’s preseason rematch with the Kings — was a pleasant appetizer to what must be a tense Northern California matchup this 12 months.
