Takeaways: Clunky start and a standout rookie performance highlight Warriors’ loss to Lakers
SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry decided he was going to shoot it before tipoff.
“That was choreographed since, like, yesterday. I was just going to shoot it. Christen Chase Center the right way. Obviously it went airball, but obviously I thought it was fitting to take a wild shot like that and get everybody excited.”
It was just 22 seconds into the game, but Curry got the ball and heaved from almost 40 feet out and missed everything but the floor. Curry’s early airball reflected some initial rust as the team still finds its footing in its new home. In the team’s first preseason game at its new arena in San Francisco, the Warriors fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 123-101.
In preseason, the final score doesn’t matter as much as the execution of the offensive and defensive schemes. Of that, Steve Kerr said he is happy to finally have some film to work from.
“It’s a typical preseason game. A lot of different combinations out there, players playing limited minutes. A little chaoctic. But, all in all, it’s a good game to have on tape for our young players to learn from, and a good night for our vets to continue to get in shape and build their stamina.”
Here are more takeaways from the the Warriors’ 123-101 preseason loss to the Lakers.
Backcourt watch
Curry and Russell combined to shoot 7-of-20 from the floor and missed eight of their nine combined 3s. Russell, in particular, struggled for the field. He looked at times out of place. Not sure where to go, and would instead stand still. For someone who spent most of last season with the ball in hands running the Brooklyn Nets offense, playing so much off the ball is an expected adjustment.
“For the most part, it’s getting him used to when we don’t call plays. It’s our second nature, our reads, spacing and overall expectations. I told him there’s nothing he needs to change about the way he plays. There are some amazing strengths he has when he has the ball in his hands, the way he sees the floor, the way he can get to his spots, either get to the rim or look for a shot and play-make for other people. In terms of our secondary offense it’s just make the reads and go. For the most part don’t stop moving, and good things will happen.”
There was a lot of your turn, my turn happening between the two. There was, however, an impressive moment when Russell rejected a high screen from center Marquese Chriss and darted toward the basket for a layup. It was improvisational and based on feel — the kind of stuff the Nets saw last season.
As Curry said, “make the reads and go.”
Notable performance: Jordan Poole
“We drafted him for his ability to put the ball in the basket and you can see his confidence,” Kerr said after the game.
That’s what the rookie guard showed early on. Poole finished with 17 points in 23 minutes but, almost just as important, took 11 shots in the game — as many as Curry. He showed little hesitation in shooting, and natural feel for spacing the floor and getting open.
“He can shoot it, he should continue to shoot it. Take good shots and work within our offense, but we need spark plugs all up and down the roster and guys who play to their strengths,” Curry said. “He’s not shy, so we definitely want to lean into that, want him to be comfortable on the floor.”
When Curry, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell sat the entire second half, it was Poole who ran the offense. It’s just one preseason game, but the table is set for the Michigan product to earn minutes and make an impact in the rotation.
Stat of the game: Points in the paint
With Kevon Looney and Willie Cauley-Stein sidelined with injuries, the Warriors lack size. Going up against a Lakers lineup that includes Anthony Davis and LeBron James didn’t help, as Golden State was outscored 66-36 in the paint.
Still, even without the top top centers on the depth chart, Kerr thought the available centers could have played better. Omari Spellman, he said, spent too much time on the perimeter settling for 3s. Chriss showed flashes of being a rotation big, but fouled out in 14 minutes.
However, pinning the blame entirely on the frontcourt would be shortsighted. Those on the perimeter did little to defend the point of attack. Even when the Warriors get Looney and Cauley-Stein back, defense will be a concern. This is a team, after all, that is replacing three of its best four perimeter defenders from last season with youth and inexperience.
“We have a lot of stuff to figure out with just three days of practice with eight or nine new guys, so it’s a lot of stuff to figure out and we will when we start communicating and figuring out the rotations,” Green said. “It’s impossible to have it all figured out by now.”
Next up:
The Warriors will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in its second preseason game on Thursday, Oct. 10.