The Golden State Warriors came up short against the Los Angeles Lakers in a 126-116 loss on Sunday night. With the first loss of the preseason, the Warriors will evaluate what improvements need to be made ahead of their upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The concerns regarding Golden State’s loss on Sunday could be attributed to the absence of several key starters, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford.
In this regard, the prospects for the upcoming game against Portland are far more promising as the Warriors’ starters who missed the game in L.A. will reportedly be available. Instead, Draymond Green has been given the night off, allowing Golden State to experiment with the core of Curry, Butler, and Horford alongside their younger players.
The Warriors struggled to settle into a rhythm in the first half on Sunday night. With Green, Brandin Podziemski, and Jonathan Kuminga anchoring Golden State’s offense, the team couldn’t keep up with the Lakers’ production, although both Podziemski and Kuminga had solid performances.
While Trayce Jackson-Davis, L.J. Cryer, and Gary Payton II also made noteworthy contributions off the bench, it wasn’t enough to inspire a late comeback.
With a 2-1 record in the preseason, the Warriors have looked solid. As the season opener inches closer, Golden State will aim for its players to settle into a positive rhythm while establishing chemistry.
Kerr Remains Undecided On The Warriors’ Starting Shooting Guard Spot
The preseason is an ideal time for teams to experiment with different rotations to see which pieces fit next to each other best. Considering that the Warriors are primarily driven by a veteran core, these concerns don’t necessarily flare up. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remains uncertain about the starting lineup, with specific reference to the starting shooting guard spot.
Kerr addressed the matter after Sunday night’s loss, saying, “I can’t say that yet. We’ve got to see where we are. Brandin’s going to play a ton. He’s a hugely important player for us. But the starting lineup frankly is a little tricky for us, given the pieces and Al’s [Horford] age.”
Kerr voiced his concerns regarding the age of the Warriors’ latest big man signing, Al Horford, claiming that if he were a little younger, he would undoubtedly be in the starting lineup. But at 39, Horford’s age forces the head coach to be a little more tactical in his approach.
The Warriors have some solid candidates who could compete for the starting shooting guard spot.
Brandin Podziemski has been particularly impressive as of late, coming off a 23-point performance against the Lakers. Given that he has big aspirations for the future, the Warriors could certainly look at him as a viable option.
The Dubs also feature two solid veterans in Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II, both of whom are familiar with their roles.
Another interesting candidate for the starting spot is Moses Moody. Although he hasn’t received much playing time in the starting lineup, Moody has proven himself to be an effective and reliable player in the rotation. Unfortunately, after sustaining a left calf injury, the guard is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason, potentially reducing his chances of securing the spot.
