Back from a week in paradise, the real work begins for the Golden State Warriors.
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work → begin → Warriors
Their preseason trip to the north shore of Oahu featured five practices, one exhibition loss to the Clippers — and a traditional Hawaiian luau, complete with fire dancers and plenty of leis.
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trip → feature → leis
“Overall, a really good week in Hawaii,” coach Steve Kerr said.
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Kerr → say → Hawaii
“Now we’ve got to build on it.”
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we → get → it
They continue their preseason slate on the mainland Tuesday night when the Lakers visit Chase Center in the Warriors’ first game in front of their home fans since the end of last season.
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Lakers → continue → season
Here are three things to keep an eye on:
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things → keep → eye
Despite the luxurious destination — the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay — Draymond Green described this training camp as one of the most taxing he’s experienced under Kerr.
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he → describe → Kerr
That’s because, in a sense, Kerr is trying to teach an old dog new tricks.
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Kerr → ’ → tricks
It’s not just Green, though the 36-year-old forward has arguably the biggest adjustment to make.
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forward → ’ → adjustment
The motion offense that was a staple of the Warriors’ golden years and typically featured Green or another center in the low post is gone in favor of a five-out system that stretches the floor.
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that → feature → floor
Its debut in the 103-101 loss to the Clippers didn’t exactly get a ringing endorsement.
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debut → get → endorsement
The Warriors connected on only six of 33 attempts from deep and turned it over 16 times.
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Warriors → connect → it
One detractor described the showing as “pretty nasty” and another said it was “a little funky.”
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it → describe → showing
Actually, that was feedback straight from the floor — speedy new point guard Brandon Williams and backcourt mate De’Anthony Melton, speaking to reporters after the game.
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that → speak → game
“Spacing, flow — all that stuff needs to improve,” Kerr said.
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Kerr → need → ?
Green was asked if he could feel the difference in the amount of time he spent on the perimeter.
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he → ask → perimeter
“I definitely feel it,” he said.
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he → feel → it
“Whether I like it or not, it’s gonna happen.”
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it → like → it
Steph Curry, who finished with 10 points in 12 minutes, said there’s been “clarity” on what they’re trying to do offensively.
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they → finish → what
“It’s just, you need reps at it,” he said.
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he → ’ → it
“It is hard to assess when you’re playing six-minute stretches.
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you → assess → stretches
This is about reps, film, getting in shape and increasing the expectation of execution every preseason game we have.”
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we → get → execution
Yaxel’s debut
A new offensive system isn’t the only thing the Warriors are breaking in this preseason.
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Warriors → break → ?
They have a new rookie who they are counting on to do big things right off the bat.
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they → have → bat
Fans will get their first in-person look at Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick in the draft this past June, whose big personality and polished game have already made an impression.
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personality → get → impression
Lendeborg was named Summer League MVP and since arriving in camp has earned high praise from Green, who was famously harsh on their last draft pick out of Michigan.
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who → name → Michigan
His preseason debut didn’t go so well, finishing with four points on 1-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes.
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debut → go → minutes
Kerr specifically called him out for passing up a layup to try to make one more pass to Charles Bassey that turned into a steal and three points on the other end.
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that → call → end
“We need Yaxel to have an aggressive scoring mentality,” Kerr said.
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Kerr → need → mentality
“That’s something that we’re going to work with him on.
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we → ’ → him
Because he can make plays and he can score.”
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he → make → plays
Kerr said he believes the 24-year-old can be “our lead offensive threat” when Curry is resting.
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Curry → say → ?
“We don’t want anything passive,” Curry said.
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Curry → want → anything
“We want him applying pressure on both ends of the floor but especially offensively.
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him → want → floor
It’s not gonna be perfect.
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It → go → ?
He’s gonna make mistakes.
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He → go → mistakes
I think he hopefully can thrive off the fact that he can play through those.”
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he → think → those
A new Podz
The prevailing opinion from those on the island seemed to be that one player was heads and tails the most improved from last season: Brandin Podziemski.
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player → prevail → season
The fourth-year guard showed up with a new haircut and determination to take his game to the next level.
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guard → show → level
Curry said that he was the “same player, same talent.
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he → say → ?
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
