SAN FRANCISCO — Strength in numbers quickly turned into strength in the Warrior’s starter. Lost 128-123 to Denver Nuggets Friday night at the Chase Center.
Steve Kerr saw more losses as a result of defensive effort, or lack thereof. It’s not debatable. The Warriors allowed his 40 points in the first quarter. They helped too much and didn’t go back to defense. The Nuggets got off to a red-hot start, ultimately shooting 53.5% from the field and 44.1% from his three-point range, with 15 of his 34 tries coming from deep.
Still, the Warriors’ bench didn’t do them any favors. In total, it was plus-minus 67 compared to Denver’s bench compiled a total of plus-63.
“Everything is going to shake up in the next few weeks about the second unit,” Kerr said after the loss. It is also subject to restrictions. [Thompson] and draymond [Green]It will take some time to sort it out.
“I think the overall effort in the second half was what we lacked in the first half. That’s what hurt us tonight.”
Jordan Poole has never been aggressive, having just signed a four-year contract extension worth up to $140 million. After his first stint off the bench, he returned to the sidelines with a frustrated slap. At the time, he was scoreless and had already committed three turnovers.
Not a lack of playing time, although they scored 27 minutes, Poole scored just 7 points. His three of them were from the free-throw line. He had five of his shots but missed all three jumpers. His minus 20 points is a game-low, and he only struck out five times last season.
In the first two games of the season, Poole went 20-6 on the field and 11-2 from three, scoring a total of 19 points. Defense no longer surprises him. His breakout 2021-22 campaign has huge targets on his back, and Kerr is focused on helping his 23-year-old star.
“They were putting a lot of pressure on him on the pick and roll,” Kerr said. “Denver did a really good job adding Bruce Brown this offseason. [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] — Two big physical defenders in the backcourt. I thought they did a good job with Jordan.
“With our second unit, we are still in the process of finding an identity with that group, which will help Jordan. In the meantime, he has a target on his back.” Win a championship, play like a playoff, sign a big contract. Here’s how it works.
“We try to help him, and then we start to find out what that second unit is. He plays in both groups, but he’s fine.”
Andrew Wiggins, who had two big nights in a row since his contract extension, resonated with Kerr’s words. I am well aware of the possibilities.
“JP is a competitor,” Wiggins said. “We didn’t score many goals tonight but we have a big game coming up. I believe in him, everyone here believes in him and we know what he can do. , I don’t think anyone cares.
“I don’t think he’s worried. We have full confidence in him. We saw what he did on the biggest stage. He has a big game coming up soon. I know that
Perhaps the biggest puzzle Kerr is trying to figure out in second unit is his wing depth at small forward. The first few minutes after Wiggins went to Jonathan Cuminga or Moses Moody?
The trio of Kuminga, Jamaichal Green and James Weisman had had a successful preseason and the coaching staff wanted to see how that would translate into the regular season. These collective skill sets also clog many of the attacks.
Kuminga went scoreless in the season opener, but used his athleticism to run the lane and easily scored two buckets early on Friday night. He never scored again and only played eight minutes, losing to minus ten.
Basically, Kerr flipped Moody in place of Kuminga in the second half. Moody during preseason was at the top of the pecking order when it came to the second unit. But he missed the final preseason game with a sore right calf and became his 11th player to record minutes when the Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
This time I didn’t even get a second in the first half. He finished the night playing 13 minutes off the bench, more than five minutes longer than Kuminga. Moody was the only player on the Warriors’ bench to finish plus or minus. He was plus three with 3 points (from the field he was 5-1, 3 to 4-1), 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal.
“That group played pretty well in preseason with JK, Jamaican and James,” Kerr explained. “So we wanted to see it. I felt at halftime, I think our coaches felt they needed more spacing with that group, so we went to Moses instead of JK. Moses came and did a really good job.
“Again, we’re going to look at different combinations and try different things. Of course, it’s not always perfectly healthy. Guys will take their chances. We must find their identity as a team, that second group.”
In reality, this is a deep Warriors team that can run at least 11 players deep. It is also a group of minus 95 in 2 games combined. It’s not because you don’t have talent.
Two of the reserves, Green and Donte DiVincenzo, are fresh to the system. Poole is still learning the sixth man role. Kuminga and Moody were 20 years old and entered his second professional season in two games. Weisman is 21 years old and currently he has played in 41 games in the NBA.
Related: Draymond proves commitment to Warriors with effort in losing game
What’s the point of all this? Please give me a time. Like two or more games.
Draymond Green said, “They had a tough night tonight. “They’ll figure it out. They’ve been great all preseason. I’m not worried about that. As they keep going.” , they will get better and better.”
