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 Warriors Blow 18 Point Lead, Lose Worst Game Of Season To Brooklyn Nets
Nov 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) defends Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) during the first half at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti/John Hefti-Imagn Images
Not good, Warriors fans. Charlie Walter here, and on today’s show we had to talk about a game that Golden State had little business losing.
The Dubs are facing a challenging period, marked by back-to-back losses that have left fans and analysts alike questioning the team’s consistency and identity. Despite a promising start to the season, recent games against the San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets have exposed vulnerabilities that echo last year’s struggles.
Turnovers and Defensive Lapses
In their latest outing against the Brooklyn Nets, the Warriors squandered an 18-point lead, ultimately falling 128-120. The game was marred by 13 turnovers, leading to 26 points for the Nets. These live-ball turnovers were a significant factor in the Warriors’ inability to maintain their lead, highlighting a recurring issue that has plagued the team.
Moses Moody’s Moment and Missed Opportunities
Moses Moody provided a spark in the first half, scoring 15 points and showcasing his potential. However, his impact waned in the second half, raising questions about rotation decisions and the team’s ability to capitalize on individual performances. Despite Moody’s efforts, the Warriors failed to extend their lead, allowing the Nets to stay within striking distance.
The Absence of Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga’s absence due to illness has been felt, particularly in the Warriors’ second unit. His ability to score and draw fouls could have provided the team with much-needed stability and scoring options.
Steph Curry: The Consistent Force
Steph Curry continues to be the Warriors’ most reliable player, scoring 28 points and hitting eight three-pointers against the Nets. However, the team’s reliance on Curry highlights the need for other players to step up, especially in high-pressure situations. While Curry’s usage rate is down, maintaining his health and effectiveness is crucial for the Warriors’ long-term success.
Looking Ahead: A Gauntlet of Challenges
The Warriors are entering a tough stretch of games against above .500 teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Denver Nuggets. This period will test the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back from recent setbacks. To emerge successfully, the Warriors must address their turnover issues, improve their free-throw shooting, and solidify their defensive identity.
Conclusion: A Season of Ups and Downs
As the Warriors navigate this challenging phase, it’s essential to maintain perspective. The season is long, and while recent losses are concerning, the team has shown the ability to compete at a high level. The upcoming games will provide an opportunity for the Warriors to prove their mettle and reestablish themselves as contenders. Fans should brace for a rollercoaster ride, but with the hope that the team can learn from its mistakes and come out stronger.
Giannis Antetokounmpo improves on greatness, again
Giannis, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez lead the way for the Bucks in 2024
Our modern relationship with the concept of greatness is a strange thing. Certainly in NBA basketball, but even more broadly, we like to hold greatness up to its lack. Less readily do we accept greatness at face value, or allow for greatness to simply stand on its own. It needs a backdrop of failure, and maybe because of that, it is failure we’ve become better at discussing. When greatness persists, or proves to have staying power, it feels almost dull. We want greatness to come with persistent conflict, and we want our greats to prove it, again and again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a prime modern example.
Over the weekend, Antetokounmpo made history. He became the NBA athlete to record the most 30-point games in a decade, beating out the obvious candidates of Steph Curry and LeBron James. That’s over 262 games with 30-plus-points. So far this season, he’s been averaging 32.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, and shooting field goals at a 60.8% accurate clip. These numbers are staggering and yet, at a glance around discussion on the season, you’d think they were hum-drum.
Truth be told, conversation about the Bucks and Antetokounmpo seemed more engaged when both struggled early in the season. Those favourite, swirling questions of will-he-or-won’t-he be traded, or force a trade, rose with aplomb. A championship calibre team doing badly is always news, sure, but when its championship calibre superstar pushes through the struggles to virtually carry the team, we tend to turn our attention elsewhere.
Maybe it’s because the thing that’s given Antetokounmpo another gear this season — rediscovering the mid-range — is a part of the floor not as exciting as the three-point range teams like the Celtics are bombing from, but the bump has been drastic. Last season Antetokounmpo shot 35.1% from the mid-range and thus far this season he’s converting 47.8% of his mid-range attempts (of which he’s doubled, 2.4 to 4.3).
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
Must Read Golden State fans witnessed déjà vu as the Warriors blew another huge lead. The troubling pattern raises concerns about their ability to close games. (Golden State of Mind)
Milestone Another milestone?! Steph Curry made NBA history during the game against the Nets, hitting three-pointer number 3,800. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview Emirates NBA Cup play continues this week — here’s what lies ahead for all teams. (NBA)
Roster Before the 2025 NBA Draft, get familiar with 10 international prospects. (ESPN)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Monday’s Fantasy Basketball Recap - Hamstrings Strike In Orlando
Nov 23, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) shoots during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action brought a whirlwind of performances, injuries, and strategic moves that could significantly impact your fantasy basketball lineup. Here are the major takeaways from the day, focusing on what’s most relevant for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Player Returns
- Devin Vassell is expected back on Wednesday, which is great news for those who have been patient with his knee issues. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson is out for Utah, creating opportunities for players like Colin Sexton and Isaiah Collier to step up. Keep an eye on Johnny Juzang as a potential deep-league add.
- Gary Harris suffered a hamstring injury, which could open up more minutes for Cole Anthony and Anthony Black. With Jalen Suggs also dealing with a hamstring issue, these players could see increased roles.
Waiver Wire Trends
- Moussa Diabate has become a hot commodity following Grant Williams’ injury. While Diabate’s scoring is limited, his defensive stats make him a valuable short-term add.
- Malcolm Brogdon is worth considering for streaming, though his long-term value remains uncertain. Similarly, Ty Jerome had a standout performance, but his shooting percentages are unlikely to be sustainable.
- Naji Marshall and T.J. McConnell are sensible additions given the current absences in their respective teams. McConnell, in particular, could provide solid assists and steals with several key players out.
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.
