On October 17th, Beijing time, because there are fewer preseason games today, we can talk about some teams that have played well in the preseason in the past period of time, the Warriors and the Knicks have not tasted defeat in the preseason so far, the Knicks are 4 consecutive wins, and the Warriors are 5 consecutive wins, it is understandable that the Knicks can play well, after all, they have four stars, and the Warriors seem to have reduced the strength of their lineup on paper in the offseason, why is it stronger?
The strength of the Warriors on paper has declined but it is actually strengthened, Klay and Paul are indeed very famous, but they are not at their peak, neither physical fitness nor competitive state can be guaranteed, so their substantive help to the team is actually not as good as the new signings Hield and Li Kaier, although the two are not very famous, but they can better help the team, Hield can replace Klay's role, and is willing to be a substitute, Li Kaier can not only organize, he can also play multiple positions, improving the team's error tolerance.
So far in the preseason, Hield has averaged 11.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17 minutes per game, with a three-point shooting rate of 48.4%, and can hit 3 three-pointers per game. Although Li Kaier does not score much, his role is that the data cannot be systematized, and he has averaged 5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.8 steals in 16 minutes per game in the preseason so far, and both of them have an annual salary of 8.78 million this season.
In addition to the two of them strengthening the team's roster, the team also has a number of young players who have risen in the ball, and in the offseason the Warriors wanted to trade Kuminga and Moody for Markkanen, and it is estimated that the Warriors are glad that they did not make this deal now, because both of them have begun to cash in on their talents this season, either because of the contract year, or it may be when it is time to increase the ball, and they have performed better than Curry so far in the preseason.
Kuminga has averaged 13 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21 minutes per game so far in the preseason, shooting 52% from the field and 47.6% from three-point range, and can hit two three-pointers per game. Kuminga, who has averaged the second-highest points per game so far in the preseason, has not only shown great impact, but his three-point shooting has improved, and Kuminga is now the team's second-in-command, and he can step up when the team needs to score.
Moody has averaged 15.8 points, 3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 20.4 minutes per game so far in the preseason, shooting 44% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 2.6 three-pointers per game. In fact, after the start of the preseason, Kerr still didn't trust Moody very much, just let him play garbage time or rotation time, and did not treat him as a core player, and the game against the Lakers directly established him as an important rotation.
Against the Lakers, he played 19 minutes, shot 7 of 13, 5 of 7 three-pointers and got 21 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, because of his excellent play, Kerr was also conquered, he said: He played well, he got better in many ways, I like his work ethic and character, he is now the most confident state of his career so far, and he will play an important role for us in the new season. To be honest, longtime Warriors fans know that Moody should have been reused a long time ago, and he has the ability to do so.
Moody and Kuminga are expected to get more tactical positions in the new season, 5 games in the preseason so far, Kuminga has started 4 games, Moody has entered the starting line after being recognized in the last two games, they are likely to start with Curry to help Curry share the pressure on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, Curry's condition has not been good so far in the preseason, probably because he is too tired to participate in the Olympics and has not adjusted over the whole offseason, or because he is paddling in the preseason.
Curry has only averaged 11 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1 steal per game in the preseason so far, with a shooting rate of only 36% and a three-point shooting rate of 28%.
Although he has been out for a long time, Wiggins is in good shape on the defensive end, he has a good game attitude, which is what the team needs, and Kerr also said in an interview that he likes the performance of Kuminga and Wiggins when they are on the court together, they can both go to the rim and can play fast, if they can continue to do so, then they will get more playing time in the regular season, they are on the same court for a long time, which they did not have last season.
The Warriors have played good team basketball so far in the preseason, and I hope they can continue the current system, and they have a chance to hit the playoffs in the new season. Welcome to leave a message to discuss.