Two things we learned
1. Gary Payton II is here to stay
Payton was given a standing ovation when he left the court late in the game, also hearing ‘Gary’ chants from a raucous home crowd. Having barely made the Warriors roster, he’s now forcing Steve Kerr to give him minutes in the rotation.
His 14 points, five rebounds, one assist, three steals and one block doesn’t even paint a picture of the value he provided on the floor. His +18 plus/minus differential was third on the team behind Poole and Draymond Green.
2. The Warriors depth is off the charts
Steve Kerr used 11 players for double-digit minutes against the Hornets, again displaying the depth of this Warrior roster. It begs the question of what Kerr will do down the line once Klay Thompson and James Wiseman return from injury.
That would give them 13 players who are genuinely capable of playing over a dozen minutes a night, not to mention expected improvement from rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody who could force themselves into the rotation.
It’s a difficult but also luxurious position for Kerr to be in, allowing him to play lineups that are working on a particular night against a specific matchup. Their depth also allows them to cover for the inevitable injuries that’ll come at some point, also allowing veteran players to rest at times throughout the season.
The Warriors are now 6-1 and will go in heavy favorites as they take on the Pelicans at Chase Center on Friday.