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Takeaways from Warriors camp: Kerr satisfied with players’ conditioning originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LAIE, Hawaii – Building blocks continue to grow and stack on each other in Warrior Training Camp on the BYU-Hawaii campus. Golden State played Thursday, but did not take the full court during practice after doing so the day before.
Coach Steve Kerr is “really happy” with the conditioning and the way his group came into camp. The defensive and offensive transition is a key emphasis in training. 2024-25 NBA season after falling in the standings last season and not playing his particular style of basketball. For Kerr, the Warriors’ play there has been unacceptable in that regard over the past two seasons.
A Chris Paul style of play, which slows the game down and goes into a set offense more frequently, is not the product that will be seen on the court this season.
Here are five takeaways from the third day of Warriors training camp, which featured comments from Kerr, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson.
Run, run, run
The speed, team fatigue and rhythm are back for the Warriors. During Wednesday’s practice, Jonathan Kuminga ran down the court and stepped into the lane to create an open 3-pointer for a teammate. That’s an example that will make Kerr happy.
He also feels the Warriors have the right players at the right ages to be a track team on the court again.
“With (Brandin Podziemski), (De’Anthony) Melton and our other guys handling the ball behind Steph (Curry), we feel like it makes a lot of sense to play fast and we have the right personnel to do it,” Kerr. saying. “But the only way it’s going to work is if we take care of the ball and make good shots, and that’s what we’re really working on.”
The Warriors lost two future Hall of Fame players during the offseason: Paul and Klay Thompson. The two are also at the end of their careers at ages 39 and 34. Podziemski is still 21 years old and Melton is 26.
Newcomer Kyle Anderson, 31, can feel the difference compared to his previous teams.
“Obviously you have to be in shape to play fast,” said the man nicknamed Slo Mo. “Day 1 was a little tough. I’m going to speak for myself, but I think in the last two days I learned it. It’s different to be fit and in basketball shape.
“We are flying on the court, we return to defense in transition. You have to get your legs under you.”
Without Wiggins
Although Kerr continues to keep his progress sealed when it comes to the starting lineup, all are expected to play in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. all except Andrew Wiggins.
Wiggins is still sick. He has been seen wearing a mask and taking shots on a side rim after practices.
While Kerr and his coaching staff insert new facilities and look for the right combinations, he’s not worried about Wiggins’ lost time in the short term.
“That’s why he’s been here,” Kerr said. “He wears his mask, he’s on the sidelines every day and he watches exactly what we’re doing. We’re basically doing things that he’s very familiar with, but we’re putting terminology into them. We’re trying to be more purposeful, we’re trying to counteract some things that we’ve already executed.
“It’s important for him to be here and see all this. I’m sure he’ll notice.”
A GP2-Melton pairing?
In addition to improving in transition, Kerr wants to return the Warriors’ identity to being a top defensive team. a healthy Gary Payton II It will help a lot. can also Melton’s additiona 6-foot-2 guard who bothered opponents with a 6-8 wingspan.
Kerr can certainly see moments where the two are on the court together causing attacks on the other team.
“He could be a good combination in the backcourt pressing the ball and playing in the passing lanes,” Kerr said. “They’ll both be in the rotation, given how they’ve looked the first couple of days.”
Before Melton’s campaign last season with the Philadelphia 76ers was cut short by a back injury, he was averaging 11.8 points per game. The last two seasons, he has produced true shooting percentages of 58.1 and 58.0, and he will be in the mix to be the Warriors’ starting two guard.
“The ball moves when he’s out there,” Kerr said. “He’s a combo guard, so he can handle it or play off the ball. He’s a catch-and-shoot guy. The game just flows with it out there, and that’s significant. We can’t stagnate, the ball can’t stick and what I see from De’Anthony is that he is a connector. The ball will move when he is out there. “If it’s open, he’ll let it fly and that’s what we want.”
Friends Cubes
The only problem Hield had on Thursday was having to spend time with the media during Curry’s post-practice shoot. Hield has said he wouldn’t have been drafted this high if it weren’t for Curry and is trying to soak up everything he can by seeing him as a great shooter.
So far in every practice, it has been impossible to see the numerous shots Hield is making. He is working with assistant coach Chris DeMarco, who has been his “big brother” for years as his head coach on the Bahamas national team.
But because of the success Hield has had throwing the ball, he might be making a slight change.
“He has a high arc shot,” Hield said of Curry. “They keep talking about my shot being so flat. I’ve shot 40 percent my entire career. I’m working on keeping my shot higher though. “I could get a higher percentage.”
Hield, who has shot over 40 percent from deep three times in his career and has an exact 40.0 three-point percentage, further explained: “If I get more arc, I could shoot at a higher percentage. I think as you get older, you want to get better. You can’t forget how to shoot, but you can always improve. … When I shoot it higher, it looks much prettier.”
Moody working overtime
For the second day in a row, Moses Moody was the last player on the court to take shots. Kerr made it a point to name Moody as a player who stood out in scrimmages during the Warriors’ second practice, and where he fits in will be a story to watch.
“I like that he catches and throws the ball quickly,” Kerr said. “He’s a good shooter. I’ve always felt like his number one pitch: If you’re a pitcher and your number one pitch is your fastball, you’ve got to figure out what your fastball is and his has to be his three-point shot. When you’re young in the NBA, it takes some time to figure out how to take your shot, how fast and how much time you have.
“He seems to have a much better feel for catching and shooting. You have the space to let go. Set your game up with that, and then when people respond, you can attack. “He’s been doing a really good job at that.”
With Wiggins out on Saturday, let’s hope Moody is a player who will likely step up in his absence.