The Warriors’ first preseason outing didn’t offer much to hang onto, and that makes Tuesday’s matchup with the Lakers a useful measuring stick. After the flat showing against the Clippers, Golden State has a few things it needs to clean up, and three storylines stand out most.
The biggest one remains Yaxel Lenbeborg. His preseason has become the main thing to watch for Golden State, and Steve Kerr didn’t sugarcoat what he wants from the rookie after Sunday’s loss. Kerr said Lenbeborg needs to be more aggressive and added that he is “capable of being the lead offensive threat” when Stephen Curry is on the bench, a role Jimmy Butler handled last season before he got hurt.
That’s a heavy responsibility for a rookie, but it also tells you what the Warriors think he can become. Kerr clearly sees a player who can score and create right away.
Lenbeborg only finished with four points on 1-of-6 shooting against the Clippers, making a three on the game’s first possession and then not hitting another field goal in 19 minutes. Against the Lakers, he’ll have a chance to show more force, especially if the defensive-minded wings are available, including Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Another battle worth watching is at backup center. Charles Bassey looks like the early favorite to grab the job while Kristaps Porzingis is out, and his first preseason appearance backed that up. He checked in during the first quarter against the Clippers, which is usually a pretty good sign that a player has a real path to regular-season minutes.
Bassey gave the Warriors 12 points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes in the opener. But Graham Ike made things interesting.
The two-way big posted 11 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes of his own, and he entered early in the second quarter, not just after the game had turned into a lineup of backups and fringe players. The Warriors gave Bassey a partially guaranteed deal this offseason, so there’s no danger of him getting cut before the season.
Still, they’re not so heavily invested that they’d have to force him into the rotation if Ike keeps outperforming him. This feels like a real competition, and Ike could absolutely push his way into the mix with a strong preseason.
Then there’s Brandin Podziemski, who needs to be a steady scorer no matter what, but especially with Porzingis and Butler out. By all accounts, he had a strong camp in Hawaii, but that didn’t carry into the opener. Podziemski scored seven points and shot 2-of-10 against the Clippers.
That one game doesn’t define anything, and his preseason overall isn’t make-or-break. Still, it would help Golden State to see the fourth-year guard start filling it up. The Warriors are asking him to handle a bigger scoring load than he’s ever had, and Tuesday would be a good time to start looking the part.
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Warriors Face A Telling Brandin Podziemski Decision Amid Bigger Questions
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It is a familiar kind of Warriors crossroads: protect the future while managing the present. With concerns already lingering around the health of Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis, the urgency goes beyond one negotiation, even if Podziemski's situation may resolve soon. How Golden State handles that conversation will say plenty about where the front office thinks this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]