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.
Golden State Warriors Cruise Past Atlanta Hawks, But Lose De’Anthony Melton For Season
November 20, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) and center Clint Capela (15) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada/Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
What’s good Dubs fans? An 11-3 start for Golden State ain’t bad, lets talk about all things Warriors. On today’s episode of Locked On Warriors.
Warriors Triumph Over Hawks Amidst Melton’s Season-Ending Injury
The Golden State Warriors showcased their dominance with a commanding 23-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks, improving their season record to 11-3. However, the victory was bittersweet as the team faced the unfortunate news of De’Anthony Melton’s season-ending ACL surgery.
Andrew Wiggins Shines
Andrew Wiggins emerged as a standout performer, scoring 27 points and demonstrating the aggressive play that the Warriors need from him. His performance was reminiscent of his 2022 Finals form, where he consistently attacked the basket and created opportunities for his teammates. Wiggins’ resurgence is crucial for the Warriors’ aspirations in the Western Conference, especially with Jonathan Kuminga playing limited minutes. Wiggins’ ability to maintain this level of play could be a game-changer for the team.
Stephen Curry also contributed significantly, with a casual 23 points and eight assists, further solidifying the Warriors’ offensive strength. The team’s first-quarter performance was particularly impressive, with nine players scoring and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Warriors Podcast:
- Analysis of the Warriors’ first-quarter dominance
- Discussion on Steve Kerr’s rotation decisions
- Impact of De’Anthony Melton’s injury on the team’s depth
- Andrew Wiggins’ role in the Warriors’ success
- Stephen Curry’s consistent contributions
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Keep the good times rolling, Charlie “Chuck” Walter
A refrain I’ve increasingly heard from casuals, like the talking heads on the NBA’s biggest broadcast partners, is that the league is too homogenous these days, that every team just goes out there and chucks up threes. Every game is the same.
Leaving aside the shortsightedness of famous, influential media analysts dumping on their own product, it’s a common enough complaint that I felt an urge to investigate. My eyeballs tell me the league’s never been more diverse and fun, thanks largely to the absurd wealth of stars today with skill sets as bespoke as their draft night suits. Jokic’s Nuggets look nothing like Tatum’s Celtics look nothing like Brunson’s Knicks, and to suggest otherwise is willful ignorance.
As I wrote about for Basketball Poetry yesterday, the current top five offenses are Boston, Cleveland, New York, the Lakers, and Dallas. Those five teams rank first, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 21st, respectively, in share of shots that are triples. You certainly don’t need to launch a million threes relative to your peers to score the basketball successfully.
Of course, that’s a rather superficial analysis. Regardless of rank, what if the absolute numbers are all getting closer together? That would represent a growing sameness.
I looked at shot data from this season, a decade ago, and 20 years ago to see how much the share of three-pointers had changed.
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 The film breakdown of Andrew Wiggins’ performance against the Hawks highlights his defensive prowess and efficient scoring, contributing significantly to the Warriors’ 120-97 victory. (Golden State of Mind)
Watch Steph Curry’s insane layup during the Warriors-Hawks game has gone viral, showcasing his incredible skill and agility. (Sports Illustrated)
Stat Owen Phillips of The F5 looks at how often centers defend guards, how often perimeter players are involuntarily guarded by centers (aka the Tony Allen effect), and much more in his analytical newsletter.
Analysis Jared Dubin of Last Night, In Basketball discusses something related: what kind of players are guarding point guards these days?
Must Read Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic talks about the NBA’s increasing difficulty for defensive-minded, older players, but the real story is that Draymond Green claims to have started lifting just four years ago.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
The Randomness Of Fantasy Basketball On A Wednesday In The NBA
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Top Five Fantasy Takeaways from Wednesday’s Games
1. Paul George’s Knee Injury Concerns
Paul George’s knee hyperextension during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game is a significant concern for fantasy managers. While initial reports suggest no structural damage, his availability in the coming games is uncertain. This situation could open up opportunities for other players on the 76ers to step up, making it crucial to monitor updates closely.
2. Unpredictable Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Game
The Pelicans vs. Cavaliers matchup was a bizarre affair, with unexpected lineups and performances. Elfrid Payton started for the Pelicans, and Jaylon Tyson shone for the Cavs, but these anomalies are unlikely to have long-term fantasy implications. Managers should view this game as an outlier and avoid making hasty roster changes based on these performances.
3. Pacers’ Struggles and Tyrese Haliburton’s Slump
The Pacers are facing challenges, particularly with Tyrese Haliburton’s shooting woes. His road performance has been notably poor, possibly due to lingering back issues. Despite this, Haliburton’s track record suggests a turnaround is likely, making him a prime buy-low candidate for managers willing to take a risk on his recovery.
Click the button below to see how Norman Powell’s injury could open up opportunities for the Clippers, and a top 50 player returns to action.
Don’t let other episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Warriors podcasts.
Golden State Warriors Finalizing Deal To Land Dennis Schroder Of Brooklyn Nets
Live reaction to the reports that Dennis Schroder is being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Golden State Warriors.
When And How Will The Golden State Warriors Late Game Scoring Struggles Change?
The Golden State Warriors were in a similar position late, failing to score for a long stretch to close the game and giving away a game the Dubs should have won. Where did it go wrong for the Warriors, and how are they going to fix this from continuing to be a theme??
Steph Curry Speaks Out: The Urgency of Tightening the Warriors’ Rotation
With the Golden State Warriors in a slump, Steph Curry made a subtle push for change. Today’s show debates the balance between development and immediate performance. The episode also explores trade rumors and the strategic decisions Coach Steve Kerr faces in optimizing the roster. With a mix of analysis and speculation, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the Warriors’ path forward amidst a competitive Western Conference landscape.
