Kylen Mills, the host of the daily Locked On Warriors podcast, with your daily Locked On Warriors newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Warriors and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Draymond Green’s Defensive Masterclass: Warriors’ Triumph Over Pelicans
Oct 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) drives against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images|David Gonzales/David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Hey Warriors fans,
I’m thrilled to bring you the latest episode of Locked on Warriors, where we dive into the Golden State Warriors’ impressive defensive showcase against the New Orleans Pelicans. Without Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins, the team still managed to dominate, holding the Pelicans to just 89 points. Draymond Green was the standout, delivering a vintage performance that reminded us all why he’s a future Hall of Famer.
In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Kolsky, a true Bay Area sports aficionado, as we break down the game and discuss the Warriors’ depth and resilience. We explore how the team managed to maintain high spirits and strong performances, even with key players sidelined. The vibes are undeniably positive, and it’s exciting to see the Warriors thriving in such a cohesive manner.
Despite not shooting particularly well from beyond the arc, the Warriors managed to secure a decisive victory, thanks to their collective effort and strategic play. Six players scored in double figures, showcasing the team’s versatility and depth. Buddy Hield, although not shooting at his best, led the scoring with a quiet yet impactful 21 points.
The Warriors’ defensive strategy was key to their success, with Draymond Green leading the charge. His ability to disrupt the Pelicans’ offense, particularly against a talent like Zion Williamson, was crucial. The team’s defensive intensity was evident as they consistently prevented New Orleans from reaching 25 points in any quarter.
Brandin Podziemski, despite some early turnovers, demonstrated his tenacity and ability to recover quickly, contributing significantly on both ends of the floor. His hustle and willingness to put his body on the line for the team were commendable, earning him praise as a valuable role player.
The Warriors’ current form, characterized by strong defense and team spirit, bodes well for the season ahead. As they prepare for upcoming challenges, including a game against the Houston Rockets, the team remains focused on maintaining their momentum and building on their recent successes. With Curry’s anticipated return, the Warriors are poised to continue their impressive run, driven by a blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent.
Last week in this space, I briefly mentioned the huge number of whistles we’d seen this season compared to the previous campaign, something that’s since been corroborated by others. But there’s another leaguewide trend worth watching. The NBA is seeing a surge in offensive rebounding — one that I think will stick.
The average offensive rebounding rate sits at 28.9%, the highest for a 10-day sample in the last decade by a mile. After a nadir in offensive rebounding in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the last few seasons have seen rates ticking slowly but surely back up, like a turtle climbing a hill. But nothing in recent history has compared to what we’ve seen in these first 10 days:
Graph by Mike Shearer
So what’s going on? Offensive rebounding used to be considered a double-edged sword. In general, crashing the glass meant giving up more in transition, and for years, the increasingly trendy focus on limiting fast break opportunities (thanks for killing fun, Coach Popovich!) cut off the O-boarding oxygen supply.
But teams are increasingly figuring out how to balance the two in pursuit of winning. Several of last year’s best regular-season teams emphasized window-wiping: New York, Denver, Phoenix, and Boston were all top-11 offensive-rebounding teams. (So were Portland and Utah, to be fair, but teams that struggle to score in more traditional ways often emphasize the offensive glass, too.)
Why are teams hungry to recover their own misses, and how are they doing so? (And don’t forget to click through for the Mildly Interesting Stat of the Week!)
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Analysis Lucky to not have a first-round pick? One expert says the 2024 class is off to one of the worst starts ever. So Blue Man Hoop argues that the Warriors got lucky in not having their first-rounder this past season.
Ranking No. 11. That’s where ESPN has the Warriors after the first 10 days of the season. Experts also highlighted the addition of Buddy Hield, saying he has given the team the scoring boost they needed off the bench.
Analysis Chris Herring of ESPN+ looks at the Cavaliers, KAT, Morant, and more in an early-season status report.
Must Read Sinful. Diabolical. Those are just a couple of the words The Ringer’s Danny Chau uses to describe LaMelo Ball’s playing style.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Victor Wembanyama’s Early Struggles In Fantasy Basketball
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) works to steal the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) after he fell to the floor during the second half at Paycom Center.
|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The NBA season is in full swing, and with it comes a slew of injuries and unexpected player performances that can significantly impact your fantasy basketball strategy. Here’s a look at the latest updates and insights to help you navigate these changes.
Key Injury Updates
Scottie Barnes is out with an orbital fracture, sidelining him for at least three weeks. This opens up opportunities for other Toronto Raptors players to step up, potentially offering valuable fantasy pickups.
The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with injuries to CJ McCollum and Herb Jones. McCollum’s adductor issue and Jones’ shoulder problem could keep them out for multiple games, affecting the Pelicans’ lineup and fantasy prospects.
Player Struggles: Victor Wembanyama and Zion Williamson
Victor Wembanyama’s early-season performance has been underwhelming, especially for those who drafted him high. In a recent game, he took only five shots, raising concerns about his role and usage. While it’s too early to panic, fantasy managers should monitor his situation closely, as his potential remains high.
Zion Williamson is also off to a rocky start, with shooting percentages well below expectations. Despite playing 33 minutes in a recent game, his field goal percentage has been alarmingly low. This could be attributed to lingering effects from an illness, but it’s a situation that requires close attention from fantasy managers.
Click the button below to learn why there’s concern over Jrue Holiday, as well as a possible new streaming option out in Indianapolis.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Warriors podcasts.
How The Golden State Warriors Turned A 20-Point Deficit Into A BLOWOUT Win Over Pelicans The Golden State Warriors were down 20, then received a spark from Lindy Waters off the bench. Waters poured in 21 to help the Warriors climb back in it, then Buddy Hield got hot and buried the Pelicans with 25 second-half points on seven threes. The Warriors were able to cruise to victory despite missing Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Melton.
Steph Curry Leaves Injured, Andrew Wiggins Balls Out In Golden State Warriors First Loss Of Season Andrew Wiggins did all he could to keep the Warriors winning ways alive, pouring in a game-high 29 points, but Steph Curry’s departure due to injury in the 4th quarter proved to be too much to overcome in a 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Cruise Control Again For Golden State Warriors, Demolishing The Jazz In Utah For 2-0 Start The Golden State Warriors picked up right where they left off in Portland, using depth and a massive 27-point spark from Buddy Hield to get the team going. Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, and company all poured in contributions of their own as the Warriors racked up a 41-point road win.
