The Golden State Warriors earned a hard-fought victory over the Los Angeles Lakers opening night, 121-114. On a night where Steph Curry shot 5-for-21 from the field, the Warriors won in a way we haven’t seen from them in the last couple of years.
The Warriors are at their best when the ball is snapping around, with players moving freely and playing within their individual ability.
The Golden State Warriors took down the Los Angeles Lakers to kick the season off, and they were able to play so well because of their elite ball movement.
Steve Kerr has stuck with this complex offense focusing on player and ball movement. Even when he didn’t have the pieces and perhaps should’ve played more through his star Curry, Kerr stuck to what he trusted.
Now this season, with key additions of guys like Otto Porter Jr., Andre Iguodala, and Nemanja Bjelica, the offense seems to be flowing from game one, even with most of these guys never playing together. The front office finally added high-IQ guys who can knock down shots.
Offensively, the Warriors will always look good thanks to Curry’s gravity combined with the ridiculous shot-making he provides. But at times last year, you saw the frustration and inability to score when Curry didn’t play or was off the floor.
This time around, it was much different.
Opening night showed how dangerous this Warriors offense can be aside from just Curry. Last year, in games where the warriors had 30+ assists they went 24-3. Last night, out of the 41 made field goals, the Warriors had, you guessed it, 30 assists, the magic number.
Highlighted by new acquisition Nemanja Bjelica, who late in the 4th quarter slipped a screen, faked a pass to the corner and, in mid air, found a wide-open Andrew Wiggins for three. It was essentially the dagger in the game, and it helped captivate everything this Warriors roster is going to be about.
Not to mention, Bjelica was the first Warrior since 1981 to post a double-double off the bench in his debut, to go along with a +26 plus-minus in 20 minutes. Combine these veterans and young talent with Curry Thompson, and Green, you have something special offensively.
Let’s hope this type of success can be sustained for the next several months.