With Steph Curry present, would CJ McCollum have gone off?
[recaps, film study and commentary]
Instead of full game recaps, what I’ve called “honest reviews”, I’ve been dissecting the opponent runs that most contributed to each loss the past three games:
The one for Atlanta, I’ve added highlights for you — these aren’t allowed on YouTube:
Unfortunately, each loss has exposed a glaring weakness…
Boston: lack of a bucket-getter to counter theirs, which on that night was Jaylen Brown, plus the vets, mostly De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II according to my analysis, did not go in with the right mindset that Steve Kerr talked about on the podium,
Detroit: lack of interior size and physicality to counter Jalen Duren and Paul Reed (also Quinten Post was lost to injury in that one),
Atlanta: lack of point-of-attack or pick-and-roll defense — CJ McCollum owned the Dubs that night — as well as what looked like mentally tired turnovers, mostly on the part of Gui Santos, who probably played his worst game as a Warrior, believe it or not.
But can one Wardell Stephen Curry be the cure-all? Certainly makes sense on Point No. 1 above, the lack of a bucket-getter.
I think we have to avoid the temptation of treating this as a video game. You might say, “Steph wasn’t stopping CJ from waltzing to the rim at will on the high pick-and-roll,” but maybe Curry answers back 94 feet later and that helps break the rhythm, or inspires the Warriors to play a little harder on defense?
There’s a mental quality to the game that I see fading from the Warriors’ spirit.
Santos looks exhausted, even hobbling at the start of the Pistons game, literally when the score was 2-0. Somehow he pulled through.
Post is flat-out injured.
Draymond Green still can’t help make those risky passes. I’ll default to keeping that switch turned on until Curry gets back because Steph is someone who can actually catch those and they do add a little flair and unpredictability to the offense.
The point-of-attack defense is atrocious, but then again Melton — who is usually the defensive stopper — hasn’t done much. I haven’t called his name a ton during our watch parties and so I think maybe he’s dialed it back a notch, which I don’t mind. Save it for when Steph gets back.
As for Brandin Podziemski, every livestream I remind people that his approach is all wrong, and now that Anthony Slater of ESPN specifically asked Kerr about Podziemski during the ATL pregame…
…I’m sure there will be more written on him coming up — but I’ll get to him soon, separately outside the scope of this post. In short, my recommendation would be that he approach each game without Steph as a pure point guard. Forget the scoring, unless you’re left wide open or you’re in the paint. Go out and get 6-7 assists per night. More on this later.
Also, in the GSW-ATL postgame (same video embedded above), Kerr said Malevy Leons “couldn’t use his right hand” due to the wrist injury suffered during a fall in Detroit the night before.
So is it worth bringing Steph back?
Absolutely. For the love of the game, this group needs an infusion, asap. They are stuck in the mud. It’s harder to find the joy when you’re grtting beat multiple ways. Shutting down Steph would not be helpful for next season’s identity because it would mean they would need to find a new identity right now.
If Steph does not come back, I personally would just focus on developing LJ Cryer, Nate Williams, and Leons (and Post, although his is a complex issue, more on that some other time). If Curry is not playing, I would also shut down Santos, actually, maybe with a new 10-day guy, if needed. On the other hand, imo Podz needs as many reps as possible.
But I’m not sure doing all that is particularly helpful now especially when everyone would still be expected to play complementary roles to Curry, whenever he gets back.
The only way you get better at playing with Steph Curry is to actually play with Steph Curry.
Incidentally, it is possible that maybe only one two-way player gets converted on the last day of the season, ahead of the Play-in. My guess would be Williams because Cryer and Leons’ contracts are for two years.
Speaking of which, bigger picture, I think there is a ton of value in getting Podz and Gui into a seven-game series, somehow, plus Melton, although it remains to be seen if there’s a salary figure that will keep Melt through next year.
While Podz got meaningful experience in the Minnesota series last year, Gui did not. A seven-game series with Gui playing a key role would be huge for his development, especially looking at the Warriors’ 2026-27 roster on paper — let’s say Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are fully healthy — both leading up to and after Jimmy Butler comes back.
So, yeah, go for it. Gotta win two Play-in games in a row, gotta ramp Curry up right into that. Obviously, Steph must be cleared as 100% ready to go, from Rick Celebrini. There can’t be any further injury risk. That right knee must be fully healed, first.
With the news today via the Warriors beat writers, looks like the earliest return would be this Friday at home against the Wizards. Golden State has seven of their last ten games at home, starting with that one.
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