If this game was to be a preview of what the Warriors will do night in and night out during the 2019-20 regular season, then there is hope yet for them to sneak into the playoffs and catch teams by surprise.
Tonight’s 124-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers showed plenty of promise, despite the Lakers resting most of their main contributors. There are some concerns, such as the Warriors’ perimeter defense (allowing the Lakers to shoot 13-of-32 on threes, good for 40.6 percent), but those are problems that could very well be solved throughout the progression of the regular season.
Stephen Curry finished with 32 points on 9-of-20 shooting (45 percent) and 6-of-15 from beyond the arc (40 percent). Curry had to become somewhat of a volume shooter, but was nevertheless efficient. Nights like these, as well as his 40-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week, are mandatory from Curry if the Warriors are to succeed on a regular basis during the season.
Steph Curry's preseason is done: 107 points on 67 shots in 98 minutes. Went 34-of-67 on FGs, 16-of-37 on 3s, 23-of-24 on FTs, a 51-43-96 percentage line.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 19, 2019
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— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 19, 2019
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4-point play for SC30#StephGonnaSteph pic.twitter.com/CgeqfMXim6
Not to be ignored is D’Angelo Russell, who closed the preseason with an excellent showing of his own. Scoring 29 points on 9-of-19 shooting (47.4 percent) and 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc (54.5 percent), Russell showed everyone the kind of second-option performance the Warriors expect from him, which is what they will need with Klay Thompson being absent during the majority of the season.
heatin' up
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 19, 2019
back-to-back #SPLASH for @Dloading pic.twitter.com/HURmcEZRCx
DLo's going off pic.twitter.com/MOndl1GZLU
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) October 19, 2019
Newly christened as an official regular-season roster addition, Marquese Chriss put in another solid performance, finishing with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. He continues to be the kind of versatile big man the Warriors place a huge premium in, capable of acting as an athletic roll man and finisher at the rim, as well as a passing big man who can make plays for his teammates.
art of the pick & roll @Dloading x @quese pic.twitter.com/LTET6zoee9
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 19, 2019
Final
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 19, 2019
Stephen - 32p/6a/1r/1b
D'Angelo - 29p/3r/3a/2s
Glenn - 13p/6r
Eric - 11p/7r/2a
Draymond - 9p/12r/3a/3s/1b
Marquese - 9p/7r/5a
Jordan - 8p/1r
Damion - 4p/1r/1a/1s
Kavion - 4p/1s/1b
Omari - 2p/9r/1s
Jacob - 2p/5r/2s/1a
Andrew - 1p/2a
Ky - 2r/1s
Juan - 2r pic.twitter.com/nPnTQtIJAN
The Warriors finished the preseason looking as sharp and refined as they can be, but in the end, it is still the preseason. The real litmus test comes this upcoming Thursday, October 24, when the Warriors will open the season hosting the new-look Los Angeles Clippers in Chase Center.
It’s going to be one heck of a roller-coaster season, folks. Strap in and enjoy the ride.