Buddy Hield has been one of the best acquisitions of the summer, providing instant offense for a Warriors team that hasn’t lost since the preseason started, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. After scoring 22 points in Golden State’s opener, Hield singed the Jazz for 24 points in the first half Friday night and now has 49 points in 35 minutes while shooting 12-of-16 from three-point range.
Slater notes that the only downside for the Warriors has been an awkward starting lineup that hasn’t quite meshed despite the team’s overall success. The unit features an excess of size with Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis lining up alongside Stephen Curry. Golden State has fallen behind 12-5 and 13-6 in its first two games before rallying to take control. Coach Steve Kerr admits there are spacing issues, but he plans to keep the group together because of its defensive potential.
“That unit is still learning how to play (together),” Green said. “We didn’t have Wiggins all training camp. … Now this lineup is getting a chance to get minutes together. What you’ll start to see if we will start to settle in offensively. We’re coming out in the first quarter and everyone is trying to get to it: Go. Go. Go. Because we want that lineup to do well so bad. Everyone is coming out pressing. But once we settle down, that lineup takes over.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Wiggins seems to have revived his career in the early part of the season, observes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. The much-maligned forward scored 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting in the Warriors‘ opener and followed that with 13 rebounds Friday night, which is a regular-season record for him. “He’s getting off to a great start,” Kevon Looney said. “… He came with a different focus. A different energy. He’s been locked in and it’s good to see all his hard work has been paying off.”
- Norman Powell is helping the Clippers stay competitive while they wait for Kawhi Leonard to return from injury, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Powell shot 14-of-21 from the field and scored 37 points as L.A. picked up its first win Saturday at Denver. “I was just focusing on what the next play was, what the next read was and really just staying in the moment,” he said. “I don’t think about how much I’m scoring or what’s going on, missed shots, made shots, good games, bad games.”
- Lakers coach J.J. Redick will be supportive if LeBron James is sincere about his goal of playing every game this season, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Most players go into a season wanting to play 82 games,” Redick said. “So if that’s what he wants to do, great. I love it. I would love to have him for 82. We’ll manage the minutes accordingly.”
The only two player combo NOT working for the Warriors right now is the Wiggins-Kuminga duo. Split them up and the team is almost unbeatable. Do whatever to win. Move Kuminga out of the starting lineup, replace him with Buddy = cash
Don’t mess with what they have going right now. Hield coming off the bench seems to be working perfectly. A 5-minute bad start and a 40 Point win is nothing to panic over even though these are Lotto teams. They can make adjustments when things don’t work against playoff teams.
Steph has been starting slow despite some pretty wide open looks which is hurting them, but also Kuminga is still trying to find where he fits in with this lineup
They are playing a new system. This lineup has only been together for 3 games. But, the Wiggins-Kuminga duo played well together last season. Besides, the Hield-Curry pairing probably is not the best defensively.
Not even going to wait until 5 games played to anoint Hield the best acquisition of the summer? Halfway mark or home stretch is when aging superstars feel the reality of a 82 game season. Let’s see how good the best acquisition of the summer or future multiple times all star in Hield and Kuminga are then and how many W’s they contribute to.
Wow…Someone is a bit upset. Write to Slater and complain…An 82 game season isn’t that difficult for an aging superstar when they don’t have to play more than 25 minutes a game. Kerr has been able to play his full bench without any issues.
Lol…sigh.
I guess that means you are going to be whimpy and not complain to Slater about it…Sigh
All up your poor widdle feelings much? How dare I point out they’ve played 2 games, perhaps let’s not get so carried away. Go get a tissue man.
Buddy Heild wins MVP 6MOtY and MIP! avg 30+ off the bench in under 20 min lols….
Yup.., Buddy’s motto right now is Klay ish..
Ready, fire, aim.
I’d like to watch them play a team that wont be a lock for a lottery selection this year.
Buddy Bahama being the savior is a cruel and bumpy road that I hope you guys are ready to trot down.