During the Warriors’ exhibition opener on Sunday, Stephen Curry displayed remarkable skill, amassing 14 points in 15 minutes. He was subsequently sidelined for the remainder of the evening during the second quarter as Golden State secured a 111-103 victory over the Lakers.
Curry initiated his scoring efforts a little over two minutes into the game with an impressive sequence. Jarred Vanderbilt (who, incidentally, exhibited strong performance for the Lakers) attempted to apply pressure approximately 30 feet from the basket. Curry adeptly maneuvered him into a screen set by Draymond Green, proceeding into the lane for a sophisticated one-legged shot, seemingly unfazed by the defensive pressure applied.
This specific basket is noteworthy because, even at 37 years of age, we recognize that Curry will consistently maintain his shooting prowess. However, his continued ability to generate downhill separation against significant pressure and execute these inventive shots in the paint will ensure his status as a premier scorer.
Curry’s final statistics included 5 of 7 shooting from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. He actively sought his shot from the outset, aware of his limited playing time. His performance was exceptional. The full scoring display is available here.
Another noteworthy play from that sequence involves the give-and-go with Al Horford early in the first quarter. This play highlights the substantial influence Horford is poised to exert on this Warriors team, both as a facilitator and a floor-spacer.
In a transition situation, observe Horford’s direct movement towards the short corner. Given his ability to shoot the 3-pointer, the defense (in this instance, Bronny James) is compelled to follow him. With Green trailing the play, thereby occupying Lakers center Deandre Ayton approximately 30 feet from the basket, the paint is left unobstructed. Consequently, Curry delivers the ball to Horford in the corner and promptly cuts backdoor for a layup, resulting in an and-one opportunity.
While the Warriors may have previously had centers capable of executing this pass (such as Andrew Bogut and Kevon Looney), they have not had a starting-caliber center during Steve Kerr’s tenure who commands this degree of attention as a 3-point shooter.
The resulting openings are evident. If Looney, Bogut, JaVale McGee, Festus Ezeli, or Zaza Pachulia were positioned behind the 3-point line, the defense would simply collapse into the paint, obstructing Curry’s path. However, when Horford is in that position (as Jaxson Hayes encounters here), he readily takes the shot.
The threat posed by Horford’s shooting will generate ample interior space for Curry, Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and all of the Warriors’ penetrators and cutters to finish at the rim without the presence of an opposing shot-blocker obstructing their path.
Horford already appeared at ease operating within Golden State’s framework, which relies on awaiting Curry’s emergence from a complex series of impromptu screens and passes. This is a demanding task, requiring both the patience to await Curry’s emergence and the anticipation to read the play and deliver the pass just prior to his arrival at his designated spot. While it may not be suitable for everyone, Horford’s intelligence and skill suggest that he will rapidly acclimate to the system.
Furthermore, this discussion omits Horford’s defensive contributions, which were also evident on Sunday. In the limited instances where Golden State has employed a shooting big man (such as Quentin Post or Nemanja Bjelica), it has often come at the cost of defense, or when they deploy Draymond at center, it clearly diminishes their traditional size.
However, with Horford, the team gains both shooting and passing capabilities, in addition to a center who remains capable of All-Defense caliber play, both as a positional defender who can effectively defend on the perimeter and as a rim protector. Within his initial four minutes of play, Horford recorded an assist to Curry, a steal (disrupting a potential pick-and-roll before it could develop), and this blocked shot.
During his subsequent stint, Horford intercepted Vanderbilt’s drive before swatting away his shot at the rim.
The margins within NBA lineups often involve trade-offs. A player may enhance the offense but detract from the defense, or vice versa. Horford, who filled the stat sheet in 14 minutes with three points, three assists, three blocks, four rebounds, and a steal on Sunday, does not necessitate such a compromise. He provides a comprehensive skillset, which was evident during his Warriors’ debut.
