Golden State Warriors · 5 notes
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.