Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins has been a surprisingly excellent two-way contributor in the team’s 2-2 series against the Kings, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The 6’7″ swingman had been away from the team since February 13 tending to personal issues, but hasn’t missed a beat in his return — he has played a total of 139 minutes in the series, a total just below those of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. He’s averaging 19.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 2.3 BPG across the first four games of the series.
There’s more out of Golden State:
- Following his very public physical training camp altercation with teammate Jordan Poole, Warriors power forward Draymond Green felt he had to work to regain his standing in the locker room, he tells Shams Charania of The Athletic. “We all know the situation,” Green said. “And I felt like I had to earn my voice. A voice isn’t given. For me, I wanted to do things to earn that back… I needed to earn respect and I needed to earn a voice. And not just because you’re Draymond… you’ve done this, you’ve done that in this organization and everyone’s just supposed to listen.”
- Starting Warriors center Kevon Looney, who once again has emerged as a major figure in these playoffs, recently detailed how a rigorous yoga routine keeps him, well, centered, per Scott Cacciola of The New York Times. Looney, who has struggled with injuries in the past, has not missed a single game over the past two season, a fact he credits to “Jana Joga,”
- Though Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson has yet to submit a massive offensive showing through four playoff games against Sacramento, history suggests that one is forthcoming, writes Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. “He’s in that weight room every day, training room every day,” Green said. “As far as him competing and looking like Klay? It’s April. That is who Klay Thompson is. He is one of the biggest and best winners I’ve been around, and that’s what matters most to him.”
How is Andrew Wiggins being good a surprise? Lol
I think it’s more “wow, he’s missed so many games, but he doesn’t look like he’s missed a step at all.”
It’s just that he was out 2 months, came back, ran with the team for a week in practice and he’s awesome again. Not everyone can miss that kind of time and have a seamless return like that.
It must be difficult not being educated about team sports and trying to comment on team sports lil aka cancel so why do you try ???.
If they beat the Kings and play the Lakers if they advance how many reporters will write off the warriors again? Seems like the end of the dynasty talk been going on for 3 years now.
To be fair, the Warriors genuinely sucked in 2020, and they weren’t good in 2021. Their resurgence last year was a shock to everyone, not just non-fans.
Both those years they were battling a lot of injuries. When players are injured playoffs are out of the question. their 3 main players missed much of the games. Curry and Thompson both missed most of the year in 2020. Green missed 1/2 the year in 20121 and Thompson all of 2021.
IMO
Warriors have zero chance to beat Lakers because of free throw attempts
I watched both Lakers game 3 and 4
The difference is free throws
Game 4
Lakers have 31 free throws
Grizzlies have 21 free throws
Game 3
Lakers have 27 free throws
Grizzlies have 20 free throws
Grizzlies hurt LeBron and Davis badly. Both of them were on the floor for a long time.
Sillivan, who do the Grizzlies have that can create their own offense and go to the line a lot other than Ja Morant?
Really nobody. They’re a bunch of grinders and a couple of jump shooters. That’s it. The Grizzlies are successful because of their toughness, defense, Hustle, and a couple guys can score on offense to keep them afloat.
Sillivan, this is why Andrew Wiggins is so huge for the warriors. He can create a little bit on offense for himself and get to the basket when he decides to do so.
He’s been so valuable with his three-point shooting, defense, ball handling, that he really gets in the flow of the offense rather than creating his own drive to the basket. Maybe that’ll change against the Lakers because of the free throw discrepancy about to happen?
The Warriors are a bunch of jump Shooters also and don’t go to the line much. Poole and Wiggins would have to forsake jump shots a little more often and try to go to the hole and draw fouls if they get past the Grizzlies and play the lakers. That’s a BIG if, two more games and they barely squeaked by in the last couple.
Grizzlies almost took game 4 without a center. Grizzlies are nothing without Adams in the middle.
We keep winning, and yet every year the media never puts GSW as frontrunners because every year the media does everything it can to prevent GSW players from winning awards. The “we cant decide between KD and Steph” BS was the corniest thing of all-time. Make them co-MVP, you dont give MVPs to players who dont win titles, thats not the point of the game and is not what the “MV” means.
Especially getting told relentlessly “GSW’s run is over” when its barely halfway through just adds to the insults.
Curry’s GSW is the best team anyone reading this has ever seen and if you disagree you don’t support winning. The Bulls were an even more of a 1-guy team. Wiggins would hold MJ to 30-35 and the Dubs cook MJs Bulls in 5.
Final 5 minutes of the game
If Poole plays, Poole is the main problem
If Poole doesn’t play, Draymond is the main problem
Every playoffs, the same thing happens. Every other teams Center basically gets severely decreased roles EXCEPT Looney, who’s role becomes 100x more important. Looney is really an incredible fit on this team and is a really great player in this league and is a really important part of a championship team.
Wiggins has definitely grown as a player, with Warriors. I give him lots of props. And I still believe he can put up 25. But he’s doing all he can to just fit in. Still has plenty left in the tank.
I remember when I said Knicks will take him. When nobody wanted him his first yr there. I was crazy,,,,,, like a Fox. Still take Wiggins on Knicks lol.
I was the loudest guy on here about trading away Andrew Wiggins. He was still Minnesota Wiggins his first year here. I thought the Warriors needed an upgrade on the wing to compete with all the other amazing Wings in the league.
Well he put in the work, listened to the coaches, focused on his strengths, improved on his weak points, and look where he is today. A valuable member of a championship team. No one’s prouder than I am.
He was arguably Minnesota Wiggins up until the last 2 months of last season. I’m of the take that his games biggest weakness was consistency and too many random very bad games – but he’s cut all those, or figured out to prevent them via playing with Steph and turned from mid to great.
You gotta give him a lot of credit. He went there and learned. And played to fit in. He got humbled and was MVP of Finals. Nice to see lol.
Absolutely Al. Congrats on first round Series win for the knicks. Hope they keep it rolling.