The Golden State Warriors started their preseason with a 104-101 loss to the LA Clippers in Honolulu, and if this initial glimpse is any sign, it wasn’t exactly a booming start to the season. While it was just the first game, and the main guys barely played, the depth behind them didn’t exactly scream “championship contender.”
Curry and Green Sit, Depth Steps Up (Kind Of)
Look, Steph Curry dropped 10 points and Draymond Green had 2 assists and 2 steals, but they both logged less than 15 minutes and sat out the entire second half. No shocker there for preseason. What *was* telling was what happened when the bench took over. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, for example, put up a measly 4 points on 1-of-6 shooting. Oof. He did pull down 9 rebounds, which is solid, and his pick-and-roll passing actually showed some intriguing flashes. You gotta love seeing a big guy with that vision.
But even with those flashes, head coach Steve Kerr was straight up about what Lendeborg needs to do. Kerr pointed to an early third-quarter play where Lendeborg tried to force a pass instead of just taking the layup himself. It turned into a turnover and a quick transition three for the Clippers. Kerr’s message was clear: “We need him to have an aggressive scoring mentality and that’s something we are going to work with him on.”
No Room for Passive: Curry Echoes Kerr’s Mandate
It wasn’t just Kerr, either. Even Steph Curry weighed in on Lendeborg’s balance between feel and aggressiveness, cutting right to the chase: “We don’t want anything passive.” That’s a stern word for a rookie after his first game, and it tells you everything about the urgency the Warriors feel to find offensive options. With scoring depth seemingly an issue, Lendeborg’s role in the pecking order needs to solidify, and fast. The coaches want him to be a threat, not just a facilitator, especially when he’s got a shot at the rim.
On the brighter side, offseason pickup Brandon Williams definitely made a statement. Practices had him pegged as speedy, shifty, and with an incredibly high motor. He absolutely lived up to that hype right away, showing off that downhill momentum for paint touches and finishes at the rim. That kind of quickness and ability to change pace in the halfcourt? Yeah, the Warriors have been needing that, big time. He looks like a welcome addition already.
Overall, beyond Williams’ promising debut and Lendeborg’s intriguing (but also concerning) moments, the team’s collective performance was pretty nondescript. Few things really jumped off the screen as “mouthwatering.” As the preseason rolls on, the Warriors will definitely be looking for more aggression and more consistent offensive contributions, especially from their younger guys, if they want to turn this “not hopeful” indicator around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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