Table of Contents
What we learned as Podz and Waters fuel Warriors’ comeback against Pels originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors’ depth was never in doubt as coach Steve Kerr used a 12-man rotation in each of Golden State’s first three games, even playing as many as 14. The quality of the many pieces of the team is what was put to the test Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans without Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton.
At first, the results were harsh. However, once the Warriors settled in and found the right combinations, Golden State was rolling and Chase Center was rocking a 124-106 victory. The Warriors in the final three quarters outscored the Pelicans 110-75, a 35-point lead.
Brandin Podziemski was phenomenal in Curry’s place at point guard. The second-year pro was a plus-17 with 19 points and five assists. Buddy Hield caught fire in the second half, going a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range in the final two quarters for a team-high 28 points. Perhaps the biggest story of the night was Lindy Waters, who scored 21 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Warriors took care of the ball much better, adding 34 assists and turning it over just eight times. Their swarm of defense also showed up to the tune of 14 steals, and the Warriors scored 32 points off 32 Pelicans turnovers.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ comeback win.
Surprise starting lineup
With two starters in Curry and Wiggins, as well as a key reserve in Melton, Kerr surprised many with his starting lineup. Podziemski replaced Curry at point guard, but Jonathan Kuminga was transferred to the bench after three games. Hield and Moses Moody came in to join Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The first look wasn’t pretty or successful in any facet of the game. The Warriors trailed 31-14 after the first quarter and were dominated all over the court. While every Pelicans starter scored in the first quarter, only two Warriors starters scored: Podziemski had seven points and Moody added three. Kerr’s starters did not play together again for the rest of the first half.
They were also not together on the court at the start of the second half. Or the rest of the game at all.
The Warriors will again be without at least Curry and Melton on Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back against the Pelicans, and it will be incredibly interesting to see what changes, if any, Kerr makes to his starting five.
Kuminga’s response
In less than five minutes, Kuminga left the bench for Moody. But his shot wasn’t falling and Kuminga scored -13 in the Warriors’ ugly first quarter. His second quarter, like the rest of the Warriors, was much better as Kuminga had two of Golden State’s nine steals in the first half and scored six more points.
He did not return to the game until there were five minutes left in the third quarter, again replacing Moody. Upon his return, Kuminga quickly showed the type of offense that best suits him: two dribbles and a layup to increase the Warriors’ lead to six points. Immediately afterward, Kuminga made his impact felt on both sides of the court.
Like all of his teammates, Kuminga got better and better as the match progressed. He could have pouted and played out of control. Instead, Kuminga scored an efficient 17 points off the bench on 6-of-13 shooting.
Wet Waters
When Kerr was asked about Waters before the previous game, the Warriors coach said he would have no problem starting the sharpshooter. Kerr didn’t get that far, but Waters was in play in the first quarter. Waters missed his only shot, a 3-pointer, in the first quarter, but then provided big minutes in the second quarter as the Warriors outscored the Pelicans 33-20.
In the second quarter, Waters was 3 of 5 from the field and made his only 3-point attempt for nine points. In addition, he also captured five rebounds: three offensive and two defensive. And then Kerr rewarded Waters by starting him out of halftime, replacing Hield.
In the first 30 seconds of the second half, Waters hit a three-pointer to get the Warriors’ offense going. Waters is expected to make his mark at the 3-point line, but he also proved to be more than a specialist.
Throughout the preseason and in his opportunities early in the season, general manager Mike Dunleavy appears to have found a gem in Waters. Viewed as a long-range weapon, Waters also had a career-high nine rebounds and was a game-best +26. Surely your opportunities will continue.