Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, November 22nd.

Warriors News:

Steve Kerr: “This was the first time I’ve ever seen a postgame defensive session”

‘We were shocked’: How Warriors got Dario Saric on one of NBA’s best deals | San Francisco Chronicle

“We were shocked that we got him on the minimum,” said head coach Steve Kerr, who has already started Saric three times. “He’s been one of our best players, and one of our most consistent players night in and night out.”

Added center Kevon Looney: “Playing against him in the past throughout my whole career, I know how good he was. I know how tough he is, and how good of a playmaker he is. … He’s been a real bright spot for us.”

Moody, Warriors taking advantage of rare practice windows | NBC Sports Bay Area

“Practices as of late have been really good, really good for us,” Moody said. “I’ve really understood the importance of practice a lot, very differently this year. At times in the past you kind of dread practice, like, ‘Oh, you don’t want to do this, you don’t want to go through that.’

“But we had a long stretch to where we couldn’t practice because the schedule was so rigorous. Then we kind of fell out of rhythm with a couple of things and actually getting to practice, we got to nail down our principles. You can just tell in the games after being able to practice, how much that really affected the team and how valuable that really was.”

Warriors avoid 0-6 homestand with an in-rhythm Klay Thompson at the forefront | The Athletic

Steve Kerr mentioned a particular first-quarter possession that exemplified what he wants them to be offensively. Here it is. The ball pings from a Wiggins post touch to Paul on the wing to Curry in the corner to a blow-by drive collapsing the defense to a kick out to Wiggins to a corner find of Paul to a catch-and-swing to a wide-open Thompson for 3 on the right wing.

Kerr called that possession beautiful, and his explanation came with a relevant note.

“The ball hit the paint twice,” Kerr said. “It was drive, kick and drive, kick again. That’s the blueprint. But in order for that to happen, Klay has to get off the ball when he’s not open rather than try to beat his guy one-on-one and take a difficult fadeaway. That’s what we’re trying to focus on.”

Steve Kerr: “Bottom line is we need Draymond”

Warriors’ Gui Santos assigned to the G-League

NBA News:

Knicks owner James Dolan resigns from NBA board committee positions | ESPN

“Given all that has occurred lately, I have come to the conclusion that the NBA neither needs nor wants my opinion,” Dolan wrote in a July memo to Silver that he copied to the other 29 league owners.

Dolan also informed Silver and his peers of his intentions to no longer attend board of governor meetings, according to the memo. While Dolan didn’t relinquish voting power for his franchise, he indicated he would turn to Knicks general counsel Jamaal Lesane to represent the organization at the BOG meetings, the memo said. That transition has occurred, sources told ESPN.

“My hope is that the Knicks will be treated equally and fairly as all other NBA teams,” Dolan said in the memo. “... As you know, I am very busy with all my duties at MSG family of companies. I need to apply my time where I can be most productive.”

Lakers go 4-0 in group play, make in-season tournament quarters | ESPN

The win guarantees L.A. a home game in the quarterfinals Dec. 4 or 5 with a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals on the line. The winners of Groups A, B and C in each conference make the quarterfinals, plus a wild card.

“Whenever you can sleep in your own bed and be in your own facility at home with all of the resources you have within that building and all of the comfort you have within your own home, you’re not having to jump on a plane and jump on a bus and go to a hotel with a foreign bed, all of that plays into us continuously getting stronger, getting into a better rhythm,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before the game. “Playing in front of our own home crowd, that’s another good nugget within those circumstances.”

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett debate who is currently the best American basketball player | KG Certified

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Preview: Warriors face Suns in Phoenix with Beal out

When the Golden State Warriors add a new player, they protect him as one of their own. That’s why when the Dubs had Kevin Durant, they wore the derisive cupcake t-shirts that Oklahoma City Thunder fans were rocking to mock the Slim Reaper.

Now the Dubs will face KD’s Phoenix Suns, who are the former team of newly acquired point guard Chris Paul. The Dubs have made sure to win games against CP3’s other former teams, like the Houston Rockets in their last contest, as well as victories over the aforementioned Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans (Paul played for the Hornets when they were in New Orleans).

Gary Payton II questionable vs. Suns

Payton has been phenomenal for the Warriors this year, playing his usual elite defense paired with high energy and intangibles. In 17.3 minutes per game this year, Payton is averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 34.6% from three-point range. The Warriors always seem to play better when he’s on the court. Hopefully that will include Wednesday’s game.

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