A faster, smaller Warriors group wasted no time showing what it can do Tuesday night.
Golden State rolled past a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers team 124-98, turning the game into a blowout with an 81-point first half and 45 points in the opening quarter alone. After the offense sputtered in Sunday’s preseason opener against the L.A. Clippers, this one looked completely different from the jump.
Steve Kerr leaned into a smaller starting look with Al Horford out, using Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green in the frontcourt. The move seemed to unlock the pace Golden State wanted, and the ball started flying.
Stephen Curry was in rhythm immediately. The 38-year-old finished with 16 points and five assists on 4-of-7 shooting in just 14 minutes, including two four-point plays that reminded everyone he’s entering year 18 without much wear showing.
But the night also belonged to the younger pieces Kerr has been pushing.
Lendeborg responded to Kerr’s call for more aggression by attacking downhill again and again, and he looked too big for the Lakers to handle. He hit 2-of-3 from deep, scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 21 minutes.
Brandin Podziemski gave Golden State another strong showing, scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in under 20 minutes. His burst to the rim stood out, especially when Green kept finding him on cuts and movement plays. Green finished with a game-high eight assists.
The look may end up being more than just a preseason wrinkle. With Kristaps Porzingis dealing with another health concern and Horford expected to be managed through a bench role, Kerr may have to keep leaning small to start the season. That could mean more speed and more five-out spacing, even if it comes with some risk.
Turnovers were the one clear blemish. Golden State coughed it up 23 times, something Kerr will want cleaned up quickly. Still, that may be the cost of playing faster, and the reality is this roster doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to thrive in a slow half-court game.
It’s only preseason, and it remains to be seen whether this version holds up against a full-strength Lakers team or stronger opponents. But after scoring just 43 first-half points against the Clippers, the Warriors at least found a formula that looked a lot more like what they want to be.
Next up is Portland, with Golden State set to face the Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back on Tuesday. The team’s key veterans are not expected to travel in what is a bizarre three games in four nights stretch.
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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 🡒]