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.
New Episode Alert: Warriors’ Winning Ways & Steph’s Return!
Nov 4, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball past Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images|Geoff Burke/Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Hello Warriors Fans,
I’m thrilled to bring you the latest episode of Locked on Warriors, where we dive into the Golden State Warriors’ impressive start to the season. With a 6-1 record, including a 4-0 run without Steph Curry, there’s plenty to celebrate and analyze.
In this episode, we break down the Warriors’ recent victory over the Washington Wizards, where Steph made a triumphant return, scoring 24 points in just 24 minutes. We also discuss the team’s strategic moves, including the impact of Mike Dunleavy’s offseason decisions and how they’ve shaped the current roster.
You’ll hear insights on the Warriors’ ability to win games even when not at their best, the importance of beating teams they should, and how this sets them up for the challenging games ahead against top contenders like the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Thunder.
Join me and my co-host, Matt Kolsky, as we explore the dynamics of the Warriors’ lineup, the role of key players like Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson Davis, and what the future holds for this team.
Don’t miss out on this episode packed with analysis and excitement. Tune in now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And remember, we’re here every day to keep you updated on all things Warriors.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis
Draymond Green candidly addresses Jordan Poole’s performance, emphasizing the importance of team chemistry for the Warriors’ success. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury
Brandon Podziemski was unexpectedly ruled out during the Warriors’ clash with the Wizards, impacting the team’s strategic adjustments. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good
The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let other episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Warriors podcasts.
Could The Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry Be First 36 Year Old To Win NBA MVP?
Steph Curry has outshined three NBA MVP frontrunners to start the season, propelling the Warriors to a 9-2 start. Could he quietly be an MVP candidate with a strong season and a Warriors resurgence?
Steph Curry Scores Final 12 Golden State Warriors Points To Defeat Dallas Mavericks In Epic Game
Steph Curry gave Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks a night-night in the final moments, with Curry scoring the final 12 Golden State Warriors points, and racking up 37 total in the victory to begin NBA Cup play.
What We Learned After Golden State Warriors Blow 31-Point Lead, Win In OT Against Houston Rockets
The Golden State Warriors ran the Houston Rockets out of the gym.... For a half. How were the Dubs able to survive a momentum shift that saw their 31-point lead turn into a 4th-quarter deficit, and who led the charge?
