Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, October 14th.
The Golden State Warriors extended their undefeated preseason run to 4-0 after defeating the Detroit Pistons 111-93 on Sunday night. Even without Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the lineup, the Warriors’ depth admirably took care of business, showing just how valuable their bench could be this season.
One standout in particular has been new shooting guard Buddy Hield. Though he hasn’t started a game this preseason, head coach Steve Kerr emphasized that Hield’s role as a scoring spark off the bench will be crucial in the regular season.
“He looks the part, doesn’t he? He comes off the bench, and you can feel his impact immediately. He’s not shy, and we need that.”
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 14, 2024
Kerr on if he sees Buddy Hield as a traditional sixth man on this team pic.twitter.com/8m7gcyfboZ
In four games so far, Hield is averaging 12.3 points per game while shooting a scorching 60% from the field. His three-point shooting has also been impressive, as he’s taking 5.5 attempts per game and knocking them down at a 59% clip. If Hield maintains this level of production, he could be a vital contributor, giving the Warriors the offensive boost needed during the non-Curry minutes.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, October 14th:
“It doesn’t matter at all whether I start or come off the bench,” Hield told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Whatever the team needs me to do, I just want to be effective in my role and play at the highest level I can.”
In four preseason games, Hield is putting up unsustainable numbers, averaging 12.2 points and 16.5 minutes. After scoring 12 points, on 4-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep over 13 minutes on Sunday, he is averaging 12.2 points per game. He’s shooting 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field, including 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from distance.
On a per-36-minute basis, that comes to a highly efficient 27 points per game.
The good: Though Melton didn’t shoot well, he made several subtle contributions that benefitted his team, most notably savvy passing that resulted in five assists in his first 15 minutes. Jackson-Davis managed three blocks, with two coming in one possession.
The bad: Podziemski had four turnovers in the first half, most of them through forced passes. Melton didn’t shoot particularly well early, going 2-of-9 from the field in the first half and finishing 2-of-11, including 1-of-4 from deep.
Summary: The only way this starting lineup is seen again is if influenced by injury or rest.
Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins scrimmaged earlier with a select group, Kerr says. He’ll play Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas. Likely more experimenting in that game, Kerr says. Potential dress rehearsal Friday against the Lakers at Chase Center.
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) October 13, 2024
“His approach was, it’s hard to have five guys that want to score out on the court playing most of the minutes. That you need role-type of players,” said fellow Hall of Fame inductee Rod Thorn, also an esteemed NBA executive and one of West’s best friends.
“It’s how you put the team together. He had an innate sense for that. … He could watch guys, it didn’t take him very long, and ascertain if they were going to be good, bad or indifferent. He just had an eye for that and wasn’t afraid to make decisions regarding players.”
Asked Moses Moody if he thinks his professional, no-complaints mindset could hurt his case in a backwards way in terms of playing time.
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) October 12, 2024
"Yeah, it does. For sure. I've even been told that."
Thoughtful, revealing answer from Moody: pic.twitter.com/z4n61AbOE6
The postgame exchange occurred after DiVincenzo had already been shown on camera at the free throw line shouting toward the Knicks bench earlier in the game.
“That’s what happens when they let you run the show,” DiVincenzo said twice before shooting a free throw during the first quarter.
DiVincenzo declined to specify who he was jawing with on the New York bench and suggested that he initially was enjoying an inside joke with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
An important part here is the wording of the Sixers’ statement concerning Embiid.
“Embiid is progressing well and will continue to take part in an individual treatment plan designed to best support his health and wellness for the 2024-2025 season,” the team said.
That reads a lot like load management. If that’s the case, this could prove innocuous. But if Embiid isn’t ready for the opener, or worse, if he misses a stretch of games to start the season, this becomes a little more troublesome.
After missing two straight NBA seasons, Chicago’s Lonzo Ball is expected to make return to basketball on Wednesday vs. Minnesota, sources told ESPN. A major comeback from cartilage transplant surgery for Ball, who last played Jan. 14, 2022. pic.twitter.com/tuJCF4GYQW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 14, 2024
The Warriors made 46% of their three-pointers and delivered 31 assists in a classic Strength In Numbers victory. Starting a backcourt of Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton, along with Moses Moody, making his second straight start, the Dubs jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter and went into halftime up 19 points.
Somehow, the absence of Klay Thompson has turned the Warriors into an unstoppable three-point shooting team. The Warriors went 6-for-7 from deep in the first quarter, with summer acquisitions Melton, Buddy Hield, and Lindy Waters III going a combined 5-for-5 to open the game.
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