The Warriors have needed contributions throughout the roster while their stars are sidelined, and Brandin Podziemski delivered in a big way on Sunday, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis all unavailable, Podziemski took over in the fourth quarter against Denver, posting 15 points and eight rebounds in the final 12 minutes while making all six of his shots.
“Everything feels slow motion, kind of,” he said. “I think those last two threes that I shot, everything felt so slow … the goal is to always try to find that. The great players do that. That’s really what it felt like.”
Podziemski’s outburst, which came after missing nine of his first 10 shots, summarized his overall season. The third-year guard has seen his minutes fluctuate and he’s been a frequent target of online criticism from the Warriors’ fanbase, but he’s become a reliable scorer while Curry has been injured, reaching double figures in the past five games.
“It’s been up and down for sure,” coach Steve Kerr said. “But our season has been up and down as a whole, and sometimes a team’s struggles impacts the individuals. But we know what he can do — for the last couple years, he’s been one of our highest plus/minus players. He’s a very versatile player. The rebounding is what attracted us to him in the first place, coming out of Santa Clara. When a guy rebounds like that, you know he has great anticipation.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Golden State is receiving its first taste of the Porzingis experience as he was a late scratch on Sunday, states Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kerr was counting on Porzingis to help neutralize Nikola Jokic, but an illness kept him out of action and Green was ruled out about 20 minutes before tipoff with lower back soreness. Porzingis, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, has been a highly skilled big man throughout his career, but his availability has been limited due to physical issues so Poole suggests Kerr may have to get used to making lineup adjustments. “I haven’t talked to him,” Kerr said in his pre-game meeting with reporters. “Just got a text this morning that he was sick and at the hotel, and he’s not even going to come over here. He’s pretty sick.”
- The Warriors have benefitted from the improved play of Moses Moody, who contributed 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists on Sunday, per Joaquin Ruiz of NBC Sports Bay Area. Already one of the team’s top perimeter defenders, Moody has been providing more scoring of late, averaging 13.1 PPG since the start of January. “Moses has been brilliant for six weeks,” Kerr said. “You know, he’s shooting the lights out … the confidence; he’s maybe been our most consistent performer. His on-ball defense; he’s top of the league against pick-and-roll. And he’s such a great teammate. He’s there for you every night, the way he works.”
- Curry, who hasn’t played since January 30 due to “runner’s knee,” said the injury has been especially frustrating because there’s still no definite timeline for him to return, relays Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). He’s set to be reevaluated on March 1, so that means at least another week without playing. “We all know the goal is to be healthy come play-in or playoff time, whatever it is,” Curry said. “We kind of know where we’re slotted in the standings right now. A lot has happened this year, so we just want to get in a playoff series and have a chance.”
You know. One day Warriors fans are gonna look up and see the fruits of their draft picks finally showing potential. Curry injury lined up pretty closely to the Kuminga trade so it’s hard to say the Kuminga trade was the catalyst. But I have to wonder how the pecking order has been restored to a group of grinders who dont need the ball to impact the stat sheet. Room seems more selfless. Willing passers and cutters. Heck of a game last night 15 rebounds for BP? He was keeping pace with Jokic in that last frame. Happy for him and Moody to have a game like this.
Trading for a guy who already can’t play in Porzingis and a Curry injury that no one knows a timeline for the recovery, is a good thing in the long run…?
The medical staff hasn’t worked with KP yet. I have no doubt they can get him to be productive once again. Others have done it. Why can’t he?
Do you think that Atlanta and Boston and DC didnt have medical teams trying to resolve it?
Who else has done it? I know of one, a woman, that was successful as an athelete despite a diagnosis.
He wasn’t diagnosed until last October. I don’t know anything about the Hawks staff. But, the Warriors staff is well regarded.
Roman Josi in the NHL has the same thing. He is considered one of the better defenseman in Hockey.
He was diagnosed in Boston last year. Massachusetts is known for having the best medical doctors in the country.
Roman is 1 yes, but he’s not 7’5” and for every Roman and Ledecky there are a dozen people that retired quickly after their diagnosis.
I’m not saying it’s over for good but it’s just unlikely which is real unfortunate.
Edit: for some reason I thought he went from Boston to dc to ATL then GSW. So remove DC and I’m factually correct. Sorry for confusion.
Yep, I noticed that also. At their height, the Warriors were a selfless team. That is why Draymond never scored a lot. He realized that Klay, Steph, Livingston were better that way. So, he brought the defense, rebounding, and passing.
Poole and Kuminga wanted to be the main guys.
The younger guys might not become All-Stars. But, they can set a tone going forward. They’ll be funner to watch and might pull out a few upsets. A rebirth of the “Strength in Numbers” culture?
Druuu. Bro has a flu and didnt want to get his team sick. What you think he ditched his team to hit that fenty in Newsome land? I totally get the frustration but we turned Mr DNP Coaches Decision into a higher IQ player who will show up as often as Kuminga did when both are healthy. Kuminga checks out…. apples for apples but KP had a chance to help us. Should have drafted Haliburton. Their you feel better?
POTS isn’t contagious.
Living in a hotel is probably not the best place for someone’s health.
Yeah especially since POTS is a very common comorbidity. Another reason why I think he will retire at season’s end.
Look man without himmy none of this really matters this year anyway.. meaningful basketball next year hopefully. Steph deserves a handful of rings