It’s been a rough stretch for the Warriors. Losers of five of their last seven games, the team — specifically Stephen Curry — needed a get-right game.
Enter the Detroit Pistons, who, with just 10 wins (10-33), are the second-worst team in the NBA.
If you just looked at the final score of 102-86, you might think this was just what the Warriors (32-12) needed.
Below the surface, though, issues remain.
Curry went for a well-below his average 18, shooting more than 50 percent from the field for the first time since December 23. More importantly, Curry shot 4-of-8 from deep and looked very comfortable on every shot.
Any lingering hand issues seem to be in the rearview, though he did suffer jammed fingers in the third quarter. It didn’t hurt that the Pistons defense was basically nonexistent.
Curry found himself wide open on a number of possessions, which must have been a shock to him as he’s usually who the defense is intensely focused on – even without the ball.
Could Tuesday night be the tipping point that finally breaks him out of his shooting slump? It couldn’t hurt.
The other thing that might help? Seeing Klay Thompson continue to break out beside him.
Thompson tied his season high (21) with 17 in the first half, and the ‘Splash Brothers’ combined for 31 points on 7-of-12 from 3 before halftime. The Pistons – the entire team – had 38.
This was the first game where it felt like the duo was truly back.
Steve Kerr said his duo is finally settling back into rhythm:
I mean it’s only our second home game obviously, and the first one was such an event. And now that we’re settling into the games that was probably the best stretch that Steph and Klay have played together. And it was a really nice groove in front of our home fans.”
Thompson hasn’t been shy with his shots, but he hadn’t had that efficient shooting detonation, which was his patented performance before the injuries.
There were glimpses though Tuesday, especially in the first half. He ended the half with a reload, step-back 3 at the buzzer that looked right out of those 2016-19 years.
Kerr said this was definitely the best Thompson has looked since his return:
That was probably his best stretch of however many games he’s played, four or five. It’s good to see him get hot and hear the crowd behind him. He got into a little rhythm.”
That, coupled with a 28-point lead, rekindled memories of those dominant Warriors teams.
The second half, however, looked more like the Golden State that has struggled to put the ball in the hoop over the last seven games. The bench – a weapon early this season – has since turned into their Achilles heel.
Jordan Poole, the man they are counting on to lead those troops, scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting.
Without his shot creation, the second unit struggles to get quality looks, since everyone else is dependent on others to get them shots.
Otto Porter Jr, Gary Payton II, Damion Lee, Nemanja Bjelica are all dangerous players when you put them around Curry and Draymond Green. But without them that initial penetrator, they turn into liabilities.
Kerr has tried to offset that by inserting Curry into those second-unit lineups. But without Green, the rotation has been amiss.
Kerr said the second half wasn’t up to their standards, and they can build off the first half:
We got sloppy in the second half, but more with our execution. We didn’t turn it over… but only had six assists. The second half was disappointing, but sometimes the game gets out of hand like that and you let your guard down a little bit.”
It’s something the Warriors will have to hold together for at least the next two weeks, while Green is out.
More than that though, they’re going to need to get their offense going. They did that for half the game Tuesday, which is encouraging.
But the other side of that is they didn’t do it for the other half, against one of the worst defenses in the NBA. Which means, a full get-right game is still needed.
It’s a packed week for the Warriors and Chase Center, they’ll take the floor again Thursday against the visiting Indiana Pacers (15-29) as part of their upcoming stretch of three games in four days. The Pacers recently lost big man Myles Turner for an extended time with a stress fracture in his foot and have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Jonathan Kuminga drew the start at power forward with Green out and Kerr confirmed after the game that he’ll keep that spot at least through the next handful of games. He picked up some quick fouls but also finished with his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. … Kevon Looney pulled in eight rebounds in the first quarter alone. He finished with 10 total and has now reached double-figures in rebounding in four of the last six games.
Curtis Uemura is SFBay’s Golden State Warriors beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @CUemura on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Warriors basketball.
Last modified January 19, 2022 3:04 am
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