Preseason proves Warriors offense can reach new heights
Star forward joined Curry, Thompson to set tone in preseason
OAKLAND — At long last, the NBA regular season begins on Tuesday. But the recently completed seven-game preseason slate provided us an early peek into the new Kevin Durantinfused era of Warriors basketball.
What did we learn during the exhibition season? Here are five things.
Scoring switch
The scoring numbers should be sporadic night to night, but balanced overall
Take a look at the preseason per 36-minute scoring averages for the Warriors’ top three: Kevin Durant 29.8, Stephen Curry 29.4, Klay Thompson 26.7. That’s both outrageously potent and balanced — topfive-in-the-league-type numbers from all three.
But they got there different ways. Thompson was scorching to start the preseason and cold to close: 46 points in the first two games, nine in the finale. Curry was frigid to start but smoking at the finish: 22 combined in the first two games, 67 in the final two. Durant was pretty balanced throughout, with games of 21, 25, 27 and 28.
Which kind of fits their scoring styles. Thompson and Curry are traditionally more explosive — bang bang bang — scorers, while Durant is the steadier, six-per-quarter type. He finished last season with Tuesday: San Antonio at Warriors, 7:30 p.m., TNT 64 straight games of 20 or more points, the longest such streak since Michael Jordan in 1991. But Durant only scored 35 or more in three of those games. Curry had 26 games of 35 or more last season. Thompson had 10.
They may arrive there differently, but it seems a wise bet that Durant, Curry and Thompson will become the first trio of teammates to all average 20 points or more in a season for the first time since 2007-08.
Green factor
Before this past postseason, Draymond Green had never scored 30 points in a game. Then he went off for 37 in Game 3 against the Blazers and 32 in Game 7 of the Finals, capping a season that saw his scoring average rise to 14 per night.
But a dip seems likely, maybe as far back as single digits. Here were Green’s points, by game, in the preseason: 2,8, 9, 2, 10, 4.
It won’t remain that low. He’ll play more and should shoot better than the 29 percent he converted in the preseason. But the gap between the third and fourth scorer on this team will be massive. So will the number of shots. Durant’s arrival may erode Green’s scoring opportunities most.
How he handles that will be vital. Because Green remains vital to his team’s success. Just take the preseason finale for example. Against the Blazers, Green missed all three of his shots, but still chipped in 11 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal in 26 minutes. He led the team in rebounds and assists in the preseason.
Young bench
At 33, Leandro Barbosa played valiantly for the Warriors last season. He had some nice moments. But Ian Clark appeared ready for a bigger role. So Golden State let Barbaso go and bumped Clark up a peg.
Early on, he has looked ready for this increased responsibility. Clark made 10 of his 20 preseason 3s, spread out nine assists and looked more comfortable than ever driving toward, and finishing at, the rim. He even made a pair of floaters and a slick layup during a 17-point performance off the bench on Friday night.
But Clark’s being pushed for those backup guard minutes. Second rounder Patrick McCaw, the latest Bob Myers draft day steal, parlayed a monster summer league into an eye-opening preseason. He’s 20. His legs are about as thin as Kevin Durant’s arms. But he produces. His hard-to-impress veteran teammates and coaches rave about him. Steve Kerr has already said he will play.
McGee intrigue
Before training camp, JaVale McGee felt like a roster long shot. In about five days, he’d already become the clear favorite for that 15th spot. Nothing he did over the next couple weeks — the highlight dunks, weakside blocks and lack of boneheaded plays — changed that.
On Thursday, he officially won it. But now that he’s made the roster, let’s not act like he’s the 15th man. He seems more like the 11th.
Damian Jones remains sidelined with a pec injury. Anderson Varejao has been extremely ineffective. James Michael McAdoo is undersized and has underwhelmed.
McGee seems to have hopped all three in the current big-man rotational pecking order. Now, after David West, Steve Kerr’s options for second big off the bench is between McGee and Kevon Looney. In games the Warriors need energy and rim protection, McGee may get his shot
Lineup options
Late in the first half of Friday’s preseason finale, briefly, Durant played center, joining Curry, Thompson, Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala. It was the first time we’ve seen that no-big-man unit, something the Warriors couldn’t have done with Harrison Barnes.
“Our team is already so versatile and Kevin just adds to that,” Kerr said. “He can play any position really. … Everything’s an option.”
The super-death lineup remains the most potent. It terrified the league last season and just replaced Barnes with a Hall of Famer. But not everything has to revolve around going smaller. The Warriors could go super big.
Iguodala’s idea: Green, Thompson, Durant, Looney and McGee, a long-limbed lineup where everyone is 6foot-7 or taller.
“Steve’s going to get paid for it and get an extension,” Iguodala joked. “But he never thought of that one.”