Santa Cruz Warriors lose by one point against the Vipers and the Lakers
The Santa Cruz Warriors lost two back-to-back heartbreaking games against the Lakers and Vipers.
On Friday, the South Bay Lakers (G-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers) defeated the Santa Cruz Warriors 120-119. Twenty-four hours later, the Rio Grande Vipers (G-League affiliate of the Houston Rockets) grabbed a late victory over the Warriors. 96-95 was the final score of that game.
On today’s of TimeOut, I am going to explain what the Sea Dubs can do going forward after the back to back loss to the Rio Grande Vipers and the South Bay Lakers.
The bench needs to contribute more scoring wise.
On Friday, three players scored single digits: Kevin Young scored six points, Deyonta Davis on four of five shooting made nine points while Juan Toscano recorded one point for the night.
These three players were also lowest scorers for the matchup against the Vipers. Toscano scored three points, Davis attempted two shots on his way to making two points for the night and Young was scoreless for the night. Jaleel Cousins also was not the best offensively for the Sea Dubs scoring a single point for the Sea Dubs.
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No doubt these players help the Warriors on the defensive end, but in order to get a good record going into the Showcase, these players need to pull their weight offensively.
A few more threes can go a long way
We are recognizing that the Santa Cruz Warriors although it is the G-League affiliate for the Warriors are not a juggernaut from the three-point line. However, they are making an effort to make more threes.
On Friday, they attempted twenty-nine three only made nine while on Saturday against the Vipers, they attempted only twenty-four threes making eight threes.
With Lee back from Golden State Warriors, the three-point percentage will increase but other players need to establish their shot from three-point range if they want to make an impression during the G League Showcase.
Avoid foul trouble
The Sea Dubs had twenty-nine fouls called against them against the South Bay Lakers while they got twenty-five fouls going up against the Vipers. Deyonta Davis led the team in fouls with five apiece. Being the aggressive defender he is, the possibility of getting a lot of foul calls will increase as with Damian Jones last season.
Learning to stay down will work in his favor going forward. In addition, the team needs to ensure that they avoid fouls calls especially when they are on a run because that can determine momentum and eventually a win or a loss for the team.
Efficiency
On Friday, one player (Juan Toscano) was negative in the efficiency area. In Saturday’s matchup, we saw three players Jaleel Cousins, Kevin Young and Deyonta Davis negative in efficiency.
Although statistics do not tell the entire story regarding games, it concerning that Toscano had one rebound, zero assists, two steals, zero blocks and three turnovers against a well-oiled machine that is the South Bay Lakers who develop momentum quickly as the season progress.
Although he improved against the Vipers grabbing five rebounds, two assists, one steal, zero blocks and zero turnovers, he needs to ensure going forward that he contributes more points, steals and blocks.
Fourth quarter magic
The Sea Dubs, in the four quarter, have made the effort to right their wrongs regardless of point differences. They push the tempo, make right plays and cut leads, but as time whines down, the Sea Dubs have a tendency of falling apart in the last few possessions which cost them the game and give the team the chance to seal the victory.
Ingram for the South Bay Lakers sealed the victory on Friday and a layup shot from Bruno Caboclo gave the Vipers the victory. The Dubs need to ensure that they finish plays when it matters and score thirty plus points in the quarter because when they do that they leave the arena victorious.
Next. Warriors: Eyeing three potential buyout targets. dark
This weekend the Sea Dubs will host the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat G-League affiliate) on Friday and Erie Bayhawks (Atlanta Hawks G-League affiliate) on Saturday.