Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg could join Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski and Draymond Green as Golden State starters, Steve Kerr said. Al Horford, at 20 minutes, comes off the bench so he or Green anchors the defense more. Kerr wouldn't commit on who plays the Oct. 16 finale.
Brandon Williams is Golden State's backup point guard, and Steve Kerr said ball security is "a big part of that responsibility." Williams has more turnovers than assists this preseason. Kerr called him "the most explosive player we've had probably since Barbosa."
Stephen Curry sat out the second half of Golden State's Oct. 12 preseason game, ramping up "a little more slowly than normal." Steve Kerr is limiting his practice load to keep him available, but "he's probably going to miss some games." Everyone was capped at 25-26 minutes.
Brandon Williams could take Stephen Curry's minutes: "He's got a chance to play a lot of those minutes," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. His job is to attack, push the pace and set up others, not fire 3s. Asked if Kristaps Porzingis could miss the opener: "He's not here yet."
Graham Ike didn't play in Golden State's Oct. 12 preseason game, but Steve Kerr says the Warriors will lean on the two-way player: "I feel like he can help us win some games. Charles Bassey as well." Kerr didn't commit on Miles Kelly or Dalen Terry before final cuts.
Stephen Curry will usually guard a wing shooter, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, "to relieve him of the... pick-and-roll defense duties." So Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos or rookie Yaxel Lendeborg takes the opposing ball-handler when Podziemski starts beside Curry.
No gentle start for Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. "I don't think he has a choice," Brandin Podziemski said. "He's going to be in a position where we need him to be aggressive, to win a lot of games." Podziemski also sees him guarding bigger wings like Luka Doncic.
"Anybody that plays with Steph, you got to be able to guard the ball." Brandin Podziemski, a Warriors starter in preseason, said that's his focus beside Stephen Curry, not keeping the job. He said Curry and Draymond Green have bought into Frank Vogel's "collision mindset."
No real bump yet for the Warriors' veterans. Steve Kerr said their minutes won't be ramped up for the Oct. 10 game, "maybe a couple extra," and a bigger increase "won't be really factored in until probably the last couple of games."
If Kristaps Porzingis isn't available, Steve Kerr said the Warriors either "start big" with Al Horford or Charles Bassey, or put Draymond Green at center with Yaxel Lendeborg at power forward, which the 6'10 Lendeborg makes more palatable. Kerr gave no update on Porzingis.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was "a little scared" to be aggressive in his debut, so he texted Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. They said they believe in him and he has "room to make mistakes." He is still "scared to talk to these guys sometimes" because of who they are.