The Warriors‘ faith in Kelly Oubre throughout his early-season struggles paid off in a big way Thursday night, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. Oubre posted a career-high 40 points in a win at Dallas after shooting just 37.6% from the field coming into the game.
“Obviously for Kelly, it’s been a rough first quarter of the season,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And yet within that span, he’s had some excellent games for us. He’s played very well at times; he’s just had some really poor shooting nights during that span that people have locked in on, but Kelly’s getting more comfortable. Guys in the locker room love him and want to help him continue to get comfortable, and this was obviously a great night for him and for the whole group.”
Golden State traded for Oubre to provide another reliable wing scoring option with Klay Thompson lost for the season due to a torn Achilles. Oubre averaged a career-best 18.7 PPG last season with the Suns, but his shot hasn’t been falling consistently since the deal. He had made just 24 3-pointers all season before sinking seven last night.
“It’s honestly been a great learning experience for me,” Oubre said. “I take it back to me being a freshman in college again because it was more of a psychological change. I had the tools to take it to the next step, but mentally I had to slow myself and wrap everything (together) and find my flow.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Thursday’s game also showed what Draymond Green is capable of doing in a small-ball lineup, Friedell adds in the same story. With centers James Wiseman, Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss all sidelined by injuries, Green dished out 15 assists while playing a point-center role. “Draymond’s one of the best defenders in the game, and also one of the best playmakers,” said teammate Damion Lee. “He’s always looking to find guys, to get guys shots.”
- Stephen Curry believes watching the offense last night should be an educational experience for Wiseman, who is expected to return in a week or so, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “It’ll be good, I’m sure, for Wise to see how that ball was moving (tonight and this week) and that he can play that way as well and still dominate the game the way he’s capable of with his size and presence at the rim,” Curry said.
- Even though Thompson hasn’t played since the 2019 NBA Finals, he ranks 10th in the Western Conference backcourt in the first round of All-Star voting, notes Alex Shultz of SFGate.
Its one game so don’t get too excited about Oubre game last night. His 3s were falling while other games same open look and misses. Dallas coach failed big time last night on why he didn’t have his team drive to the hoop. Dallas played the same as if the warriors had all their big men healthy. Sometimes you must adjust to what the other team gives you. KP is a awful defensive center.
Oubre’s trade value says SHHHHHHHH
Are you aware that Warriors are the 11th best team in the nba?
One more win Warriors lose the First round pick to Thunder
I have watched every second of their games this season, so any “are you aware” questions are remarkably condescending and insulting. FYI.
I’m more concerned with the Wolves pick than I am GSW. They have a “Steph Curry in his prime” season this season, anything less than a title isn’t good enough.
Klays hurt and it’s Wisemans first year. Saying anything less than a title isn’t good enough is ridiculous. Especially when the Warriors have basically made a home in the finals over the last decade
Totally agree….. What the hell is wrong with Carlisle ??
Kp touched the ball in the paint 2 times in the 1st half !!!!!!!! And he gets 5 rebs all day…….. That dudes soft AF….poor Luka
Loved seeing the GSW 2nd unit just make every shot down the stretch, that was fun – Dallas is in trouble, I really had high hopes coming into this year for them
I agree, I’m very surprised by how poorly they are executing and just how slow Luka looks out there, his conditioning looks off this year, luckily that’s not a permanent issue, but it’s one they need to do.
I read on twitter Luka is shooting all these 3’s because he’s tired and…well if the shoe fits?
Luka’s poor defense was even more the problem. He looked more like Harden out there. Dallas needs to bring in some outstanding defenders if KP and Luka are on the floor at the same time.
Luke going from his only comp being Lebron to his only comp being Harden says so much about his future – if he does nothing about his conditioning, that is. He needs to get faster.
Agreed let’s see what Saturday’s game shows.
Please keep voting a guy who will not play bball this season into the All Star game to further show what a sham it is!
Did you just find out that voting for a home team player happens? What should be asked is why Thompson is on the ballot?
Since when was the all star game NOT a popularity contest? Everyone loves Klay, therefore everyone will vote for Klay.
This is the oldest fact ever – you haven’t been into the NBA for long, have you?
Long enough to know that all star games in any sport are contrived, BS events. Baseball tries to make it important but most players don’t give a crap about who wins or not. What makes the NBA even more contrived is when it is so and so’s turn to win the MVP so his teammates feed him the ball. It is playacting. The only thing that a player needs for his HOF resume is to be chosen as an all star but playing in the game does not matter. Only teenagers care about it because it is the closest thing to video game basketball that real players engage in.
My guy, its an exhibition game, stop taking it so seriously. You are mad it doesnt matter? Why?
Warriors got tons of most open shots you have never seen last night
Then Mavs missed 30 3 pts field goals
When the league decides big men are suddenly back in, Steph Curry and the 9 healthy Warriors will play Nellie Ball and beat up Luka’s full strength Mavs to remind everyone that they are still light years ahead.
Damion Lee talks up Green’s defense.
Curry talks up Wiseman playing.
Funny…
Mavs need the nba best 3 and D player like Wiggins
To January 24
Wiggins leads all wings players in defensive FG and shot blocks
Rofl everything Steph said made sense. Let’s see how Hassan Whiteside is doing with understanding those concepts…dont hold your breath on that with Wiseman. That being said, you wouldnt be the first, and far from the only, person to hope for that
I have no idea what the Mavs were doing last night. No real post play. Disaster.
The coaching is so bad. Any one of us could have stepped in and suggested they play inside-out.
Credit to GS of course, but with even a small measure of coaching smarts the Mavs could have played a better game.
I think people are nervous to call out such a long-tenured coach such as Carlisle – he’s approaching Pop-like immunity if his management isn’t being called into question. Look at Philly’s improvement with a coaching shakeup.
Doc Rivers has just as poor, if not worse, of a history of poor use of his rotations as Brett Brown. The only reason he isnt continuing it is Morey made it harder for him to mess up by moving certain pieces that arent as obvious of fits
Yeah that was my point Formerlyz, even Doc can turn around a team with questionable fit.
maybe the mavs are just playing chess? let the warriors show what their best scheme/rotation is on tape, then implement changes/adjustments when the games really count.
The Mavs are on a pace to end the season with the worst record. Every game counts.
NOOOOOO
If the Mavs fire Carlisle, he’ll have half a dozen offers the day after the season ends. The guy is a basketball wizard.
The Maverick’s have two big problems: 1. Teams can load up on Luka and scheme only for him because KP is the third best player on a good team, and 2. Dallas has few trade assets.
Firing Carlisle only makes sense if Luka demands a trade.
For all the Mavs appointees. Who couldn’t handle my take on KP. I was only being informative and truthful. But I told you so. McGee is 270 LBs. KP is 245 LBs and taller. Longer better healthier career is at 280 LBs.
KP got made by NYK fans. Then he thought he was bigger than Knicks. That’s just Silly man. We will be thinking of and saluting KP when our top 10 pick is called. Thank You bro .
Unbelievable my comment got taken down when I didn’t insult anyone in the original post, but a troll came on and said I did and I would be reported for it. What the F is going on in here? Ban the trolls, not me!
Im here to talk Warriors with sensible non-trolls but I do not take any guff from anyone arguing otherwise!
What about comment section are you confused about? This isn’t Reddit, SB Nation, or whatever else you are attempting to force it to be.
Nobody that dislikes what was appropriately deleted & thrown away wants censorship, but there is a consensus among many for you to display more eitiquette & to stop lighting fires where none exist. That is abundantly clear.
If you still have some self-righteous reply to this obvious, and intentional olive branch? I guess that would be par for the course today wouldn’t it?
Your comment got removed because you started and maintained a flame war. There’s no reason for that here. Heated discussion and disagreements are fine and sometimes can even be interesting. But you seem to go out of your way to argue with and insult people. Case in point: this comment of yours right now. It doesn’t have anything to do with basketball and is combative and insulting.
There are fans and there are fanatics. Then there are homervision zealots. An argument has two sides of the story or more. It’s not like you are going to convince everyone. But you can state your facts and points. Doesn’t need to get personal.
Curry had one of the best games of his entire career and they lose to Dallas.
Whenever something like that happens to Harden all you hear from people is how selfish a player he is and will never win a championship but Steph does the exact same thing and no one criticizes him the same way they do with The Beard.