Charlie Walter, 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.
Golden State’s New Era: Teamwork Over Star Power
Nov 12, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) in the second quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images|Cary Edmondson/Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
It’s Gameday Dubs Fans!
The Warriors begin a much easier stretch than the past four games, starting with the Memphis Grizzlies who will be without star Ja Morant.
On today’s episode I posed a simple question for Dan Devone, from 95.7 The Game. He was not high on the Warriors as a serious threat in the west and I gave him the floor to hop on board. Did he?
In this episode, we explore the Warriors’ dynamic team play, reminiscent of their golden years, and discuss the standout performances of Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. We also tackle the big question: who steps up as the number two when Steph Curry isn’t on the floor? Jonathan Kuminga’s name comes up, and we debate whether he can fill those shoes.
Dan and I also delve into the strategic decisions by the Warriors’ front office, praising their focus on depth and defense over chasing big-name free agents. We ponder the team’s future moves and whether they should stick with their current roster or make a splash at the trade deadline.
And of course, we couldn’t ignore the emotional showdown against Dallas, where Steph Curry’s intensity was palpable. We discuss the significance of that game and what it means for the Warriors moving forward.
Catch us on your favorite podcast platform or watch us on YouTube!
I held off on writing about the apparent rash, or rise, of early-season athlete injuries because there’s always some recency bias involved when the subject comes up. Are there really more injuries this year than any other? Do we have the data to support it? Is there a new, underlying cause? Or are injuries due to the same compounding mix of bad luck and the NBA’s 82-game schedule running into a long postseason, running into the offseason, running back into a brand new long regular season and the erosion of bodies this eventually leads to?
A report early this week showed early-season injuries were up 35%, and indeed ESPN’s list of injuries, at a glance, looks like a ferocious Christmas tree, lit up in blazing reds and yellows. A handful of teams (the Grizzlies, Pelicans, Raptors) are cobbling together rosters game-to-game depending on who’s still healthy. TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott ran a draft of the injured list this week and each team reads like an All-Star squad on steroids, and when Abbott printed out the league’s official injury report it was 10 pages long.
Injuries are definitely up — but why?
The Paris Olympics proved extra playing time for a few top-tier stars, but most of them remain healthy. The early season schedule hasn’t served up any more back-to-backs to longer road game stretches, which tend to be more gruelling on athletes, than usual. However, when everything appears to be normal and the bodily price is anything but, perhaps it’s time to examine that “normal”.
The NBA’s current schedule of 82 games was adopted in 1967. Already, I’m sure your brain is picturing black and white basketball, that’s good. When you picture that grainy, glitchy footage, how fast is it going? The reality is that the game used to be a lot slower. Not just in its mechanics (think of an offensive passing sequence, the ball flipping from set of hands to hands at a speed that can be hard to follow), but the athleticism too. Bodies were moving slower. The game was still physical — the trope of players from the 80s and 90s complaining about the “softness” of current athletes is a trope for a reason — but full tilt sprinting, cutting, complex rotations, these weren’t the norm. Given that, the bodily mechanics were different. Guys weren’t stopping on a dime, pivoting hard, having to force their ligaments and muscles and bones into exacting motions with all sorts of volatile force behind them.
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.
Analysis A few weeks into the season, and there have been some surprises. The Athletic looks at eight players to get to know better. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Fans Dub Nation, check out the Warriors’ new City Edition jerseys inspired by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. These fresh threads are a must-see for any fan. (Golden State of Mind)
Analysis Coach Steve Kerr opens up about managing player minutes this season, shedding light on the team’s strategic adjustments. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Warriors host the Grizzlies tonight in the group stage of the NBA Cup. Read the preview.(NBA.com)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Replay: Navigating the injury bug
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
This week in the fantasy basketball world has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. A major talking point has been Chet Holmgren’s unfortunate injury, which has fantasy managers scrambling for replacements as the Oklahoma City Thunder adjust with potential lineup changes. Keep an eye on players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace — who might see increased minutes — and consider them as temporary pickups in deeper leagues.
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?
