Austin Reaves spent Tuesday night showing exactly where the Warriors are vulnerable, and it wasn’t subtle. He carved Golden State up for 28 points in 25 minutes on 10-of-18 shooting, added seven assists and seven turnovers, and helped the Lakers build a 20-point lead in the third quarter.
Golden State still came back to win 101-89, but the result does little to hide the preseason issue that keeps showing up: point-of-attack defense. Turnovers are right there with it, but the way the Warriors are getting beat off the dribble is the bigger concern.
Reaves was the only real Lakers threat with Luka Doncic resting, and Golden State still kept giving him clean paths to the rim. The Warriors deserve credit for forcing him into a turnover-heavy night, but the tape also shows too many easy drives that never should have happened.
One early sequence started with Curry, who wasn’t prepared when Reaves rejected the screen. That kind of recognition is basic stuff for the defender at the point of attack, and Golden State paid for it.
Another possession was even more glaring. Yaxel’s footwork and positioning were off, and he practically invited the blow-by. That’s the sort of play any team can run with any quick guard, which is why it stands out so much.
There was also a possession where Bassey got fooled by a pass fake before Reaves finished with a scoop shot. The issue there wasn’t just the finish - it was the space Bassey gave up, even with help available on the roller.
Then came a breakdown between Lendeborg, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski, with Lendeborg failing to cut off Reaves’ drive while Podziemski needed a momentary assist to get back in front. It was another example of Reaves getting to the lane because the Warriors’ coverage wasn’t synced up. In that case, Lendeborg also had to be ready to sink back for Walker Kessler diving to the basket, a simple read for a traditional center, though Lendeborg is not a traditional center.
That’s the common thread across all four plays: get Lendeborg or Bassey moving in space, then attack downhill.
Bassey had some good defensive reps against the Lakers, but he is not the kind of anchor who can cover for point-of-attack defenders constantly losing their man. That’s the problem Golden State is staring at.
The Warriors aren’t going to build a great POA defense overnight, but there are ways to cover it up. The clearest one is giving De'Anthony Melton more minutes. He’s their best healthy point-of-attack defender, and he could even move into the starting lineup over Podz or Gui Santos, though that would come at an offensive cost.
Another path is to lean on centers who are comfortable defending in space and organizing the back line. That would mean Green and Al Horford handling most of the center minutes, with Bassey mixed in here and there. Under that setup, Lendeborg would not be playing center.
Even then, teams could still try to attack Lendeborg when he’s at power forward. The difference is that an experienced center behind him would make it harder for those breakdowns to turn into easy baskets.
Neither fix fully solves the issue. That’s why the most aggressive option is a trade for either a top-tier point-of-attack defender who brings more offense than Melton or a center who can wipe out a lot of the mistakes before they become layups.
Players like that usually cost premium draft capital, and Golden State has been reluctant to pay that price.
If the Warriors are going to swing big, the better fit may be a dominant defensive center. Myles Turner isn’t in Rudy Gobert’s class, but adding the Bucks center would still be a major step in the right direction.
In Other News...
Warriors Suddenly Have A Yaxel Lendeborg Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Warriors got a scare in their preseason win over the Lakers when Yaxel Lendeborg turned his ankle, a moment that briefly put a spotlight on one of the more intriguing parts of their early lineup plans. He did return to the game for a short stretch, and afterward he downplayed the issue, calling it not severe and sounding upbeat about where he stands heading into the next stage of camp.
Still, it is the kind of injury moment Golden State cannot afford to brush aside, especially with the team weighing whether Lendeborg could start and trying to manage other banged-up players as the regular season approaches. Preseason results matter less than availability this time of year, and the Warriors will be watching closely to see whether the ankle shows any lingering effect as they keep sorting out the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
The Warriors made a notable tweak to their roster mix, waiving guard Miles Kelly and signing free agent forward Tyler Burton, according to an official team statement. Kelly had turned in a strong preseason, which makes the decision a little harder to ignore, but Golden State opted to open a spot for a different kind of look as it continues sorting through the edges of the roster.
Burton arrives with some recent NBA experience after previously spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies on 10-day contracts, and hell get a chance to compete for a place with the Warriors in mid-October. For a team still shaping its final group, the move is another reminder that preseason production does not always guarantee a lasting seat at the table. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Created An Early Center Battle Fans Did Not Expect
Draymond Green sitting out the preseason game against the Lakers opened a small window into something the Warriors may not have fully planned for when camp began. Charles Bassey got the start at center over Al Horford, and it was hard not to notice the way the younger big has been pushing himself into the conversation after a strong preseason run compared with Horford and Graham Ike.
Bassey signed a partially guaranteed one-year deal, so nothing about his roster spot or role is locked in yet, but his defensive value matters more now with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable indefinitely. For a team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation, the early signs suggest this center competition may be more open than expected, and Bassey has done enough to make the Warriors keep looking his way. [Read more 🡒]