The Golden State Warriors remain unbeaten in the 2021 preseason by beating the Los Angeles Lakers this past morning by 114 to 121. Outsiders Stephen Curry (30) and Jordan Poole (28) combined with 58 points, including 22 of 43 in field shots.
The Oaklands showed once again why they are the best passing team in the league and delivered up to 30 assists. Veteran Andre Iguodala continues to hallucinate with the state of form that the Warriors treasure at this point in the season, and that they have 9 new faces among the 20 contracts they treasure for him training camp.
“It is much better than I expected, especially at this point. The movement of the ball has been incredible, “Iguodala told the newspaper. San Francisco Chronicle.
The Warriors dished out as many as 14 assists in the first half alone to create a 59-49 lead over the Lakers at the Chase Center, and they left until 8pm in the three-quarters of a game. This preseason they are averaging 29.5 assists per night.
“It is everything for a coach. When you have a team that knows how to play and is willing to always give the ball to the open guy, it’s beautiful to watch. And it also creates a chemistry that is hard to deny, ”explained Steve Kerr.
The Warriors led the NBA in assists last year with 27.7 per game, and amassed at least 30 assists 27 times. They have led that statistic in the league in 6 of the last 7 years, including an average of 30.4 in the 2016-17 season.
“This style is a lot of fun to play,” admitted newcomer Otto Porter Jr. “We have a group of very selfless guys who can dribble and pass the ball. This system, the way we run and they have run it for years, it’s easy to see that the assists are going to come. The open shots are going to be there. The field shots are going to be there, “he said.
Porter Jr. completed 9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals as a starter; and backup Moses Moody had 10 points. In Los Angeles, the greatest exponent was a Dwight Howard with 23 points and 12 rebounds; followed by Talen Horton Tucker and Kendrick Nunn with 17 and 13 points respectively.
Oakland’s have two friendly games to go. Another against the Lakers next Tuesday, and the last against the Lillard and McCollum Blazers on Friday.
(Cover photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)