HONOLULU, Hawaii – After 4 days of coaching camp at BYU-Hawaii, the Warriors ventured to the College of Hawaii on Saturday and introduced fireworks to their preseason opener, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 91-90 on a game-winning buzzer-beater. beating 3 pointer from Lindy Waters III.
PRESEASON LEGEND LINDY WATERS pic.twitter.com/VCITzpsCiB
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 6, 2024
“What a good way to finish an important week,” coach Steve Kerr mentioned after the win.
Outdoors of Waters, taking pictures wasn’t the Warriors’ robust go well with. Main 53-49 at halftime, the Warriors shot 37.3 % from the ground within the first two quarters and simply 20 % (5 of 25) from behind the 3-point line. The numbers additionally acquired worse as the sport progressed. Total, the Warriors shot 33.7 % and 22.9 % from three (11 of 48).
Steph Curry, who sat out all the second half and performed a complete of 14 minutes, could not give the followers the kind of present they got here to see. He scored 9 factors to steer the Warriors within the first half, however made 2 of 8 pictures and missed all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt. On the free throw line, Curry shot an ideal 5 of 5.
Steph passes Harden and pours him 😤 pic.twitter.com/ulipa3xd8L
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 5, 2024
MVP chants for Steph in Hawaii 🗣 pic.twitter.com/Ixn3oIFIAG
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 6, 2024
The Warriors are working to change into a prime defensive group once more, and there have been flashes of that in suits and begins. By halftime, the Warriors had already thrown 9 steals and scored 20 factors off 14 Clippers turnovers. They completed with 14 steals and 7 blocked pictures whereas holding the Clippers to 38.5 % taking pictures and 22.9 % from past the arc.
Waters was the hero of the day, hitting 5 3-pointers, together with 4 within the fourth quarter.
“Dude, shout out to Lindy Waters,” De’Anthony Melton mentioned. “I knew from the leap that Lindy was going to hit some large pictures tonight. I advised him I wanted not less than 4 threes tonight. …Lindy got here to shoot and I am happy with him.
Kerr added: “He’s an excellent shooter, however he’s greater than only a shooter. He’s acquired good measurement, he’s not only a scout man. As you noticed on the final one, it got here off a pin. So he is a superb taking pictures transfer, however he additionally understands the sport nicely. We’re actually excited to have him.
“We I beloved him previously once we performed towards him. [Warriors general manager] Microphone [Dunleavy] did an important job discovering him and buying and selling for him. He undoubtedly has the talents to play our type.
Listed below are three takeaways from an exhilarating first win of the Warriors’ preseason slate.
Beginning composition
All week, Kerr hasn’t given a single indication of who will begin the preseason opener with Andrew Wiggins out as he continues to be beneath the climate. Wiggins wore a masks Saturday and was on the sideline throughout the Warriors’ victory.
When the Warriors confronted off on Friday and had a gaggle consisting of Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Inexperienced, it appeared prefer it could be the primary 5 on the courtroom. Kerr then warned reporters to not assume something, and it seems he wasn’t joking.
The beginning 5 had been Curry, Melton, Kuminga, Inexperienced and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The primary outcomes weren’t nice.
“Not nice, however it’s preseason for everybody,” Kerr mentioned. “We did not actually have a superb tempo at first – a gradual begin. But it surely’s nonetheless good to get these 5 guys on the sector collectively and see what it is like.
They performed the primary seven minutes collectively and located themselves in a 17-12 state of affairs earlier than Kerr turned to his bench.
Melton scored eight factors on 3-of-7 taking pictures in simply 12 minutes.
Melton ➡ Steph ➡ M3lton pic.twitter.com/iOnP3PXYlj
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 5, 2024
Inexperienced, who like Curry and Melton didn’t play the second half, had two factors, two steals, a rebound and an help, but in addition two turnovers and three fouls. Kuminga’s seven rebounds led the Warriors, and he additionally scored seven factors. Jackson-Davis added 4 factors, six rebounds, two assists and a steal, however was the one starter with a unfavourable plus/minus (minus-2).
Whereas Kerr maintained that he noticed Kuminga, whose plus-4 was one of the best amongst starters, as an influence ahead greater than a small ahead, he says he’ll proceed to strive it alongside Inexperienced and Jackson-Davis.
“Sure, we need to proceed to consider it,” Kerr mentioned. “Clearly all three guys are proficient gamers and also you need to have the ability to play your finest gamers collectively, however it has to click on. We’ll hold making an attempt.
Discover mixtures
It was not one or two gamers who got here off the bench, however 5 new ones. That second unit was Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Hield, Kyle Anderson and Kevon Looney. Instantly, Looney blocked a shot and the group went on a 5-0 run to tie the sport.
Moses Moody got here in for the ultimate 5 seconds after that 5 outscored the Clippers 14-6 to take a 26-23 lead after the primary quarter.
“Loon is available in and instantly does what he does,” Kerr mentioned. “He simply makes issues occur.” It will by no means make headlines – setting a display screen, serving to defensively – however it helps you win.
To start out the second half, Kerr went with Podziemski, Hield, Moody, Kuminga and Jackson-Davis. That is the purpose of this coaching camp, in addition to the remainder of the preseason: to seek out who finest matches who.
“We had so many alternative mixtures,” Kerr mentioned. “I preferred the defensive exercise of Gary, Melton too, BP. We’ve guys that may disrupt offenses and switch that protection into offense for us.
Moody makes his level
The preseason opener was one other instance of the numbers sport. delicate state of affairs for Moodyin addition to how he can drive Kerr’s hand. Regardless of lacking virtually all the first quarter, Moody’s eight factors within the first half had been second solely to Curry. He ended up scoring 12 factors in 13 minutes on 4-of-9 taking pictures and conceded on two of his 5 3-point makes an attempt.
Moody offers the inexperienced mild to a few 🎯 pic.twitter.com/1NJ1mKswxT
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 6, 2024
His plus-14 was a sport excessive as he added 4 rebounds – three offensive – two steals, an help and a block.
What made Kerr happiest was that Moody filmed with out hesitation and made fast selections, the 2 areas he emphasised most for Moody’s development.
“He did a extremely good job in camp getting the shot off shortly and making that No. 1 precedence,” Kerr mentioned. “He’s an excellent shooter, and he’s on the level now in his profession the place he feels the place the fence is. I feel early in his profession he was extra hesitant. However the offense runs loads smoother when he simply catches and shoots, and I find it irresistible when he does that, which he did all week.
Subsequent up for the Warriors is a showdown in Sacramento towards the Kings on Wednesday night time at Golden 1 Middle.
Obtain and observe the Dubs Discuss podcast
