Power forward Gui Santos has seen his role expand with the Warriors in recent weeks and it’s given a major confidence boost to the 2022 second-round pick, he told Kevin Borba of NBCSportsBayArea.com.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m feeling really good right now about the shooting, you know the confidence,” Santos said. “I think especially when you know that you’re going to play every night when you know that like your team trusts you, the staff trust you, that gives you way more confidence to go out there. You take shots with confidence, you take shots that you think like, [you think] ‘yes this shot is one shot that I got shoot it and I’m going to make it.’ And I feel good right now I’m in this position.”
In the month of February, Santos is averaging 29.7 minutes, 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He’ll be a restricted free agent after the season.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- As with his past teams, Deandre Ayton is frustrating the Lakers with his inconsistent play. Ayton has a minimal offensive role but the team is trying to unlock his potential as a rebounder and defender. Coach JJ Redick also sees plays where the ball should go inside to Ayton. “There’s positive trends,” Redick said after practice Monday, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “We did watch some film today. There was some real positive trends defensively. I think his spirit and engagement and stuff has been really good. I think for all the guys, if he has a smaller player on him, that’s an advantage for us. Let’s just get him the ball. I think it’s just thematically across the team, we have to pass it to each other more and trust each other more. … In terms of him running and putting pressure on the rim and offensive rebounding, particularly against switches and smaller players, he could be better there.” Ayton is averaging career lows in points (13.0), rebounds (8.4) and minutes (28.1).
- Jalen Green has missed a good portion of his first season with the Suns due to hamstring injuries. He’s now in a position to make a major impact with both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks out with injuries. “I think I bring a little bit of everything,” Green told Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports. “Play faster, get some steals and get into the open lane. I think that’s where my biggest impact is, getting to the rim, the 3 and scoring.” Green is averaging 16.8 points over his last four games.
- The Kings’ franchise-record losing streak of 16 games was finally snapped on Monday, as Russell Westbrook scored 25 points in a 123-114 road victory over Memphis. Precious Achiuwa matched his season-high with 20 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds. “We needed this,” Achiuwa told NBC Sports California, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee relays. “It’s been a bit of a rough path for us the past couple games. We’ve played really well a lot of those games. We were just unfortunate not to come out with a win, but tonight we’re glad. It feels good to win.”
I’d like Gui’s fit on the Warriors more if they also had two of Saddiq Bey, Harrison Barnes, Trey Murphy, Jimmy Butler or Lebron James. He’s a decent backup SF but nothing special. High floor/low ceiling guy.
He had a horrible game tonight. the team embarassed themselves out there. I was wondering if they were tanking for a draft pick. it was that bad.
They won 3 quarters and shot badly in the 1st, got wrecked once again with Kerr’s terrible starting lineup in 1Q.
Get Moses Moody some help!
Kuminga back with a bang.
It is only one game. He has had better with the Warriors. Does he actually keep it up?
Giants…exactly what I’d be saying with you guys preying and hoping for a bad game so you could pile it on.
Of course, you would be praying for a player to have a bad game. I’m not. Kuminga has had great games before. He just has had trouble following it up. Inconsistent.
The only reason I would want Kuminga to have a bad game is so you guys would stop whining about him. It is insufferable. Lots of players have difficulty with teams. Don’t you think the Lakers wish they had never traded Zubac. He blossomed on their on court against them. Get over it.
They were also playing the wizards. i have no idea who teh wizards starting players are?
As someone who watched Ayton during his time in PHX, I can tell you that he’s a stiff. He has a world of talent and absolutely no desire to utilize any of it other than a fall-away jumper from the middle of the lane. No dog in him at all.
Ayton is a back up center not a starter. He just doesn’t do anything but shot close baskets and block shots.
How many years have the Lakers been looking for a center? I wonder if they regret trading Zubac before he broke out.
Funny. Davey is dismissive of Santos. Curry loves Gui…And Kerr…Oh the irony.
Now that was a embarassing game by the warriors. I would have thought they were the tanking team. warriors might as well tank for a better draft pick. With no Curry or Butler they have very little offense.
Podz has back to back 15 REB games lol
We really gotta redefine the “rebound” stat to not include deflection gathers. You have to go bodies with another player(s) to get a rebound. Grabbing a missed 3 point attempt is a gather, not a rebound.
Moody and Melton scored plenty tonight. Podz needed to score more, so did Will Richard.
Will richard did nothing in 17 minutes.
It all works out. They were supposed to lose to Denverand beat the pelicans.
The grizzlies are beatable. Let’s see who shows up tomorrow night.
As I was watching tonight, I look at the pelicans roster and I don’t understand why they’re so terrible?
They have a lot of names and high salaries. Why do they suck? They’re definitely better than the warriors that’s for sure.
Not surprised New Orleans won tonight, but I am surprised the Warriors stayed in the game somehow. There’s issues with the pelicans, but I’m not sure what they are??