The Golden State Warriors are 4-0. That is not a sentence I was thinking that I’d be writing after the Dubs missed the playoffs and added five players, all of which didn’t seem like the biggest difference makers.
They’ve run through a few weaker Western Conference opponents after completing a two-game sweep of the teams in Los Angeles, taking down the Lakers at Staples Center and the Clippers at home.
The Golden State Warriors have stayed perfect through four games, but they still have a few players that should be doing more for the cause.
This team has impressed. While they won their first two games on the back of a Stephen Curry triple-double and then a Curry 45-point effort, these past two and even parts of the first two have been dictated by the newcomers.
So far this season, the Warriors have won by 12, 8, 2, and 7 for an average margin of victory of more than seven. They’ve been a completely different team, one that feels synchronized on both sides of the court.
That said, while they’ve played well, scoring triple digits in all four games, there is always room for improvements. With that in mind, let’s dive into three players fans should be expecting more from in the near future.
Golden State Warriors player that must step up: Nemanja Bjelica
Nemanja Bjelica put fans on notice with his impressive contributions against the Lakers. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Without him in that role, the Warriors wouldn’t have won. That’s safe to say, but since that outing, Bjelica hasn’t been as impactful, to say the least.
Against the Kings, in ten minutes, he went 0-for-5 from the field and 0-2 from three. In the team’s other two games, he combined for eight points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes. While the minutes aren’t quite there, the impact isn’t either.
The Warriors are very thin at center right now with Bjelica just behind current starter Kevon Looney. If he hopes to keep his role on the roster, he’s going to need to be better than the sub-three points he’s averaged over the last three games.
With the Kings in the 2019-2020 season, Bjelica averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 42 percent from deep. That’s the player Golden State needs to see on a more consistent basis, especially in the future.
Golden State Warriors player that must step up: Otto Porter Jr.
The preseason teased fans.
Porter Jr. was among the most-used players, and he thrived in the preseason.
Sadly, that hasn’t quite translated into the regular season for whatever reason. His conditioning could still be a work in progress, but when he’s been in, he hasn’t contributed nearly as much as his preseason dominance had fans hoping for.
Through four games, Porter Jr. is notching around 18 minutes per game yet scoring under five points per game. That’s a problem, especially for a former top-five pick that was brought to Golden State to make an impact off the bench.
He is yanking down 5.7 rebounds per game which is solid in the minutes he’s being given, but shooting just 20 percent from deep is unacceptable for a player of his caliber. That should be expected to change, and in the near future, expectations should be restored.
Hopefully, that’s sooner rather than later as the second unit could desperately use his scoring.
Golden State Warriors player that must step up: Jordan Poole
Third-year guard Jordan Poole has been the team’s second-best scoring option. He’s a better creator than former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins. However, he’s returned to his inefficient ways.
He’s being given 27.8 minutes per game and is scoring 15.2 minutes per game, both decent averages. The ugly part is that he’s shooting just 40.3 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from deep.
Those numbers must improve. Against the Thunder, Poole went 0-for-7 from deep. While Curry and Klay Thompson have had those types of games, they aren’t nearly as frequent.
Along those lines, maybe it’s the fault of fans who were expecting more from Poole. Nonetheless, Poole needs to consistently be that second top threat, and that means being more efficient despite already having a couple of solid scoring outings.
All of that to say, the Warriors are still 4-0 and the top seed in the division. They have been surging, but they’ll be looking more in tune with a true title contender if these three can step up in the near and distant future.