SAN FRANCISCO – With one deft change to the starting lineup, Warriors coach Steve Kerr demonstrated the biggest difference between this season’s roster and this year’s iteration.
Out went the returning 6-foot-4, 205-pound Brandin Podziemski, and in went the 6-9, 260lb newcomer Al Horford.
The new lineup saw Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler moved to guard and wing respectively, and Draymond Green shifted to his more natural power forward position and away from guarding 7-0 giant Donovan Clingan.
There was plenty to analyze in Golden State’s 129-123 victory over the Blazers at Chase Center on Wednesday night.
Butler scored 12, while Curry put in 10 and Buddy Hield scored 13. Moses Moody scored 10.
Quinten Post put up 20 points and LJ Cryer had 14 while leading a thrilling fourth quarter comeback alongside Pat Spencer.
On the first possession, Green showed his chemistry with his new frontcourt partner, lasering a pass to Horford for a layup, albeit one not converted.
However, over the first 6:47, the lineup produced mixed results, as it fell behind 18-12 and forced Kerr to call a timeout.
The interior defense was sensational in allowing just four points in the paint. But with a slower frontcourt, the Blazers peppered Golden State from behind the arc, starting 4 of 6 on wide-open looks.
Green was surprisingly effective as a shooter, nailing a couple of open triples, and though Horford began 0 of 3, he did make a nifty pass to Butler while leading the fastbreak.
That was all the spectators at Chase Center got to see of the starting unit, with that combination not playing together again in the first half. To start the second, Curry, Butler, Green and Horford were not on the bench.
Same amount of minutes for starters
After playing around 15 minutes each in Sunday’s preseason opener, the Golden State vets – Horford, Curry, Butler and Green – were expected to play more minutes.
“We usually ramp them up a little bit each game,” Kerr said after a recent practice. “I imagine it will be a little bit more than the other night.”
In reality, the ramp-up was minimal. Butler played 17 minutes while Green and Curry each played 16 apiece. Horford actually saw a decrease in playing time, seeing the floor for just 11 minutes while going 0 of 4.
Moody and Post were the only Warriors players to crack 20 minutes.
Podziemski … point guard?
Kerr put starting shooting guard Podziemski in the role of floor general in the first quarter.
The results were … not pretty. Portland ended the first quarter on a 13-0 run, with Golden State struggling to generate open looks with only one natural ballhandler on the floor.
Butler returned to start the second quarter and took over de facto point guard duties. It also saw Jonathan Kuminga spend time with Horford and Butler, which produced five quick points to begin the second quarter.
Podziemski finished the game with five points and three assists, and appeared much more effective when playing off either Butler or Curry. Kuminga, who had two assists, once again played the part of a willing passer against the Blazers. He repeatedly made the extra pass, including a couple of dishes to Curry that did not show up in the stat sheet.
The Warriors will play their first road game of the season at the Lakers on Sunday.
Other notables
- Oakland native Damian Lillard did not make the trip back to the Bay Area. He tore his Achilles in the first round of the playoffs for Milwaukee and is still rehabbing in Portland.
- After using 18 players in the opener, Kerr slightly cut the rotation down on Wednesday. He played 17, with Marques Bolden not entering.
- Seth Curry was healthy but did not play. Because he entered training camp a few days later than the rest of the team, Kerr said he is “ramping up” his activity.
- Summer League sensation Hansen Yang was unable to recreate the magical passing and interior scoring he flashed against the Warriors in Las Vegas. He fouled out, and only had four points and one assist while looking a tad bit frazzled against real NBA competition.
- Golden State Valkyries center Iliana Rupert’s younger brother, Rayan, suited up for Portland.
