The Golden State Warriors rang in the new year in style on Tuesday night, ending a three-game losing streak with a strong 121-115 victory over a big and talented Orlando Magic team that was ready to play…like it has been all season . It was far from a perfect game, but I also maintain that it was a better performance than the final score suggests.
Both the Dubs and I were lucky to take time off for two of their three most recent losses. They didn't want to get those grades and I didn't want to waste time writing them. So this is a happier occasion. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a grade of “B” representing that player's average performance.
Note: True Shooting Percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that takes three-pointers and free throws into account. Heading into Tuesday's games, the league average TS was 58.0%.
Jonathan Kuminga
34 minutes, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 7-for-14 shooting, 1-for-5 three-pointers, 4-for-5 free throws, 58.6% TS , +10
Earlier in the day I wrote that I wanted Kuminga to actually get starter-level minutes, and get them consistently.
So far, so good – JK was second on the team within minutes on Tuesday. That came at a cost as Moses Moody was a healthy DNP, but it was great fun watching Kuminga play like a true starter.
His game also justified it. He salvaged a few misses with a series of isolation moves, but also demonstrated his commitment to a team-oriented offense by repeatedly making the extra pass… and quickly. He was one of the team's best defensive players and was a key contributor to rising star Paolo Banchero's five turnovers.
A few more rebounds would be ideal, but overall, that's exactly what the Warriors wanted from Kuminga: a dedicated defender who knew how to operate within the lines of the offensive system while occasionally displaying violent athleticism outside of it Creativity acts in the lines.
Bravo, JK.
Grade: A
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Trayce Jackson Davis
24 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-for-4 shooting, 4-for-6 free throws, 75.3% TS, -1
TJD made his second straight start…not an easy feat for a second-round rookie on a team with two proven veteran options at the position. Things didn't go particularly well for him in this game, as Orlando's big and athletic team repeatedly attacked the court in the first few possessions, giving the Magic an early 11-2 lead.
But Jackson-Davis settled in and played quite well. There are still some bumps and bruises for the rookie, such as some late rotations on defense, a few hits and a few offensive plays where he missed the right action by a split second. But that pales in comparison to how much he brings a new dimension to the team.
He's been great at rebounding this year, even if he's been a little underwhelming this year (but better than the final results suggest). It looks like he could be the starting player in the long run.
Grade: B+
Chris Paul
30 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-5 shooting, 3-for-3 three-pointers, 3-for-4 free throws, 88.8% TS, -8
It was a quiet statistical game for CP3, but if you looked closely it was pretty clear that he was one of the best players on the pitch. He just kept the engine running constantly, and when the team really needed him, he would call his own number and make big shots.
In my opinion, Paul was the second best Warrior this season. In my opinion it wasn't close.
Grade B
Post-game bonus: Tie for worst plus/minus on the team.
Steph Curry
35 minutes, 36 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 12-for-20 shots, 4-for-9 three-pointers, 8-for-11 free throws, 72, 5% TS, +12
Three missed free throws? Give this man an F!
Jokes aside, I liked almost everything about this Curry game. Wanting to stop him, Orlando settled early on by setting traps, shutting down the defense and letting his teammates run. Then, when the Dubs needed it, Curry took over, driving critical runs in the second and fourth quarters and shooting the kind of shots that make him must-see TV every time he lace up his sneakers.
He also led by example. When Steve Kerr talked about the team not playing enough for each other on Saturday, he certainly wasn't referring to Curry. Still, Steph was an endless ball of energy in this game, beating the deck for loose balls, jumping out of bounds to keep plays alive, and rushing through the passing lanes like his name was Charvarius.
It made a statement. Everyone else followed.
Grade: A
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points, assists and plus/minus.
Klay Thompson
25 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 6-for-11 shooting, 3-for-8 three-pointers, 68.2% TS, +4
It wasn't a performance that will be remembered in a year or even a month. But after Thompson has struggled horribly over the past three games, it's been a joy to watch him battle efficiently. And um…how many times have we seen Klay make that pass???
I was also very impressed by his defense in this game. And he dove in. Which, predictably, he loved.
Grade: B+
Dario Sarić
14 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1-for-3 shooting, 0-for-1 three-pointers, 33.3% TS, -8
It was clear that Kerr didn't particularly like Šarić in this matchup, and given the size and athleticism of Orlando's bigs, it's not hard to see why. The homie didn't play until the second quarter and his minutes were sparse all night.
Kerr had the right idea as Šarić really struggled in the minutes he was given.
Grade: D+
Post-game bonus: Tie for worst plus/minus on the team.
Kevon Looney
17 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 1-for-2 shooting, 3-for-4 free throws, 66.5% TS, +10
Not a dynamic Looney game, but a pretty darn solid Looney game, minus the fouls (easier to forgive when he knows he won't be playing heavy minutes). His role has definitely diminished now due to the way the Warriors play and the gaps in the team's execution. But he still does some things very, very well.
Grade B-
Andrew Wiggins
21 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 4-for-7 shooting, 1-for-3 three-pointers, 1-for-3 free throws, 60.1% TS, -3
Wiggins had a great first quarter, coming into the game at half and scoring seven points to help the Dubs gain momentum.
He disappeared for the rest of the game, only managed one shot, was no longer on the glass, and didn't make much of a difference on defense. But that first quarter performance was crucial.
Grade: C+
Gary Payton II
11 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1-for-5 shooting, 0-for-3 three-pointers, 20.0% TS, +10
The Payton story isn't about how he played. It's about how he left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring strain that I think will keep him out of action for a while. It's a big blow for the team and for GPII, who was playing only his second game since returning from a month-long absence.
Note: Heal soon, buddy
Brandin Podziemski
28 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 fouls, 4-for-7 shooting, 1-for-3 three-pointers, 1-for-4 free throws, 57.1% TS, +4
If it were high school, Podziemski and Wiggins would still be at the Chase Center making the 1,000 extra free throws their coach had asked for; Luckily, they can go home and sleep instead.
Podz may have been dropped from the starting lineup, but he still plays big and shapes the game with his talent, energy, creativity and selflessness. I think it's safe to say that any questions about whether his run was a flash in the pan or whether he was the real deal have been answered. He is an important part of the team at the moment.
Now get to the free throws.
Grade: B+
Tuesday's DNP CDs: Cory Joseph, Moses Moody, Lester Quiñones, Jerome Robinson
Inactive on Tuesday: Usman Garuba, Draymond Green, Gui Santos
Read more