Tag: Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green has flagrant foul welcome plan for Andre Iguodala

The Warriors will welcome back Andre Iguodala to the Bay Area with the Heat, and Draymond Green has a special plan for his former teammate.

Andre Iguodala will make his first appearance in San Francisco’s Chase Center on Monday night, but instead of the home sideline — the former Golden State Warriors’ sixth man will be on the opposing bench for the first time in six years.

Iguodala has missed most of the NBA season as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. However, now with the Miami Heat, he’s back on the court for game action.

Before the NBA trade deadline, Iguodala was moved from Memphis to Miami to come off the bench in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation. In the former Arizona Wildcat’s second game since the trade, he will suit up against his former teammates in the Bay Area.

Instead of a warm welcome back to his former home, Draymond Green has something different in store for the 2015 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

I’m going to flagrant foul him — flagrant two — as soon as I get a chance,

Reporters at the Warriors’ morning shootaround reminded Green that a flagrant two would trigger an ejection.

It would be worth it — I get to talk about that for the rest of my life with him, so it would be worth it.

Iguodala and Green formed one of the best defensive tandems for six seasons in Golden State, winning three NBA titles. Although the two shared championship memories, How Green handles Iguodala as an opponent will be something to watch.

Enes Kanter laughs at Kevin Durant’s reason to leave OKC

Kanter played 108 games with Durant in Oklahoma City across a season and a half after coming over from the Utah Jazz in February 2015.

Enes Kanter has never been one to shy away from controversy.

The Swiss-born Turkish national has been outspoken in recent years against the Turkish government as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for what he’s called a “human rights tragedy”.

Now, the former Thunder center is speaking about something else. Or rather, tweeting about something else.

Kanter’s former teammate in Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant, recently joined SHOWTIME Basketball’s All The Smoke, where he sat down with his former Golden State teammate Matt Barnes, as well as Stephen Jackson, to talk about things as he continues to work back from the Achilles injury that has kept him sidelined this season.

As it usually does with Durant, the conversation turned to his decision to leave Oklahoma City for the Warriors following the 2016 season. Durant said it was because he “needed a change” and that while in OKC he “didn’t play with a lot of skill guys”.

Kanter needed just five letters and a crying laughing emoji to respond.

Kanter played 108 games alongside Durant in OKC from 2015 through 2016. He averaged 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 26 games after coming over from Utah in 2015, and 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds the year after.

Kanter isn’t the first one of Durant’s former Thunder teammates to take issue with some of KD’s comments.

Durant and former-Thunder center, Kendrick Perkins, got into a Twitter feud in January after Perkins said that former Thunder point guard was the “best to ever put on a Thunder uniform”.

Perkins subsequently apologized to Durant on Twitter following the death of Kobe Bryant.

Splash Brothers, Draymond Green named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson may be injured right now but everyone knows how dominant the duo are when healthy.

Team USA’s men’s basketball team made good on their promise to have every superstar to their 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Along with NBA luminaries like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, Team USA has listed the Golden State Warriors’ iconic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — the Splash Brothers — along with fiery, versatile forward Draymond Green.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will return as an assistant coach for Team USA’s men’s basketball team.

Curry has only played in five games this season (though he’s expecting to return in early March) and Thompson hasn’t played at all this season (but will be re-evaluated around the All-Star Break), with the duo rehabbing a broken hand and a torn ACL, respectively. However, there’s no doubt that when healthy they’re two of the most dominant players in the league and the two best outside threats in the league as well.

It’s, frankly, more likely that Curry participates in the Olympic Games than Thompson due to the differences in the severity of their injury and the latter’s cautious approach to his injury rehab. However, Team USA would undoubtedly love to have both available and if healthy they would be shoo-ins to make the final 12-man roster. Interestingly enough, it would be Klay’s second time as an Olympian while it would be Steph’s first.

Green could also be named as an Olympian for the first time, although his ability to make the final 12-man roster is far from guaranteed, especially with players like LeBron, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Kevin Love and Tobias Harris all battling it out at power forward.

As a center, Draymond would be attempting to beat out the likes of Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bam Adebayo and Brook Lopez. A far easier task than the former but still plenty of competition.

Green is the lone member of the Warriors core that’s been healthy throughout the 2019-20 season, averaging 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 steals per game but struggling from the field with a true shooting percentage of 49.1 (his worst since his rookie season).

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Miami Heat (34-18) continue their Western Conference road swing Monday when they visit the Golden State Warriors (12-41) for a 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Chase Center. We analyze the Heat-Warriors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Heat at Warriors: Key Injuries

Heat

  • SF Jimmy Butler (shoulder) questionable
  • C Meyers Leonard (ankle) out
  • SG Tyler Herro (ankle) questionable

Warriors

  • PG Stephen Curry (hand) out
  • SG Klay Thompson (knee) out

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Heat at Warriors: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Warriors 116, Heat 112

Moneyline (ML)

The Heat (-208) suffered a 115-109 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday, which dropped them to 0-3 through the first three games of their six-game road swing. They’re now just 12-15 on the road for the season and 5-5 across their last 10 games overall. The WARRIORS (+170) have lost two straight games, including a 125-120 setback against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday at Chase Center. They remain last in the NBA and are just 7-18 on home court.

I like the value with the Warriors, even though they’re just 1-12 straight up when playing with the rest advantage over their opponents this season. The absences of Butler and Herro are looming large for Miami, and the Heat are just 6-9 when playing with a rest disadvantage. Back the home dogs with a small wager.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Warriors to win returns a profit of $17.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Place a larger amount on the WARRIORS (+4.5, -106) with four points of insurance in the event of a loss. They lost by only five points against a much-stronger Lakers squad Saturday, and they’re 12-13 ATS on their home floor while the Heat are just 11-15-1 ATS on the road.

Miami has covered the spread in just five of 12 games as a road favorite on the season. Don’t put much stock in the Heat’s 122-105 win over the Warriors in Miami Nov. 29, as Butler and Herro combined for 35 points in the victory.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the OVER 219.5 (-110) as the Warriors will be able to exploit the Heat’s defensive weaknesses in the absences of Butler and Herro. New Warriors SG Andrew Wiggins, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the trade deadline for PG D’Angelo Russell, went 8-for-12 from the floor for 24 points in his debut with the team in the narrow loss to the Lakers.

Miami has allowed 128, 105 and 115 points in each of its last three losses, respectively. Expect the Warriors to approach 120 points on their own as this one creeps Over the number in the final minutes.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 192-153

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Steph Curry on a potential early March return from injury: ‘That’s the plan’

In a sideline interview during the Warriors game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen Curry said he’s setting his return to action goal of early March.

Over the past week, the NBA trade deadline has dominated all headlines regarding the Golden State Warriors, and rightfully so. The Warriors traded All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that shook the NBA world.

24-year-old swingman, Andrew Wiggins, and a pair of 2021 draft picks came back to Golden State in the four-player mega deal. Beyond the transaction with the Timberwolves, the Warriors traded a total of six players before the deadline expired.

With Russell gone and the second half of the season underway, all eyes shift to the return of Stephen Curry.

Curry’s only played in the first four games of the 2019-20 season, missing a significant amount of time with a broken left hand. Although his recovery has been long, the two-time Most Valuable Player is progressing towards a return to the court.

Golden State re-evaluated Curry in early February with reports pointing towards a March return from injury. In a sideline interview on ESPN’s broadcast of the Warriors game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Curry was asked if he’s hoping to be back by early March.

That’s the plan — it’s been the plan since surgery knowing the timeline with the injury as severe as it was — I’m not rushing, but I’m setting a goal that hopefully I can meet — first week of March to get back out on the floor with my teammates and hopefully end the season on a strong note.

With the Warriors record sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, Golden State could be patient with Curry, even if he’s healthy. However, an early March return would give the All-Star guard around 20 games left on the season to build chemistry with his newest teammate, Wiggins.

Marquese Chriss is a perfect fit for what new Warriors could be

Marquese Chriss is playing the best basketball of his career so far in the Bay Area.

As a budding rim runner, Marquese Chriss is carving a role for himself that could hold value as the Golden State Warriors embark on a new era.

This season Golden State has an opportunity to evaluate its young talent as the star backcourt of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson get back to health. Next season the Warriors could be right back in the playoff picture, assuming their core trio of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green are healthy.

And Chriss, a bouncy 22-year-old forward, has the potential to fit seamlessly with what the new Warriors could be.

He showed as much in the Warriors’ 125-120 loss Saturday night to the Los Angeles Lakers. Chriss scored a season-high 26 points and was two points away from setting a new career-high. He used his athleticism in slipping behind the Lakers’ defense for dunks. He cut into open space for easy buckets.

As the Warriors’ lob player of the future, Chriss has showed this season how effective he could be when there’s space for him on the weak side or in pick-and-rolls.

Chriss has threw down 68 dunks this season, according to Basketball Reference. That’s the second-highest mark of his career, with the highest being in his rookie season.

In 48 games with the Warriors, Chriss has played some of the best basketball of his career. He’s scoring 8.3 points per game, the second-highest mark of his career. Chriss is grabbing 5.5 rebounds, matching the career-high he set during his sophomore season in 2017-18.

And to top it off, perhaps Golden State’s system of ball and player movement has upped Chriss’ assists numbers; he’s averaging a career-high 1.7 assists.

Next season, with Curry and Thompson drawing so much attention, Chriss has an opportunity to continue building his game. He has a bevy of playmakers surrounding him to help him score easy buckets.

Green, arguably the Warriors’ most intelligent passer, could run the pick-and-roll to perfection with Chriss next season. Green ranks fifth in assists this season among forwards, according to NBA.com.

According to NBA.com stats, Chriss is currently scoring 1.8 points as a roll man and is shooting 54.2% from the field on those possessions.

Despite Chriss finding some footing with the Warriors, his journey throughout the NBA has been filled with change. He’s played for four teams in his four-year career.

Playing his first two years with the Phoenix Suns, Chriss was traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2018-19 season. Chriss didn’t play too long in Houston, as he was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the middle of last season.

Even with the Warriors this season, Chriss has been through some transition. He started off on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal in September. Chriss was then waived in January, and in the same month, the Warriors brought him back on a two-way contract.

On Friday, Chriss’ two-way deal was converted to a standard NBA contract. The contract is a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

 

The Warriors’ offense next season is still going to be anchored by Curry’s and Thompson’s shooting prowess, and the team’s young players are going to benefit greatly from that.

Andrew Wiggins, who was acquired at the trade deadline, can simply be the pure slasher that he’s always had the potential to be. Damion Lee is another ball handler, and he’s a quality shooter. Rookie guard Ky Bowman, who was also recently signed to a standard NBA deal, is showing he can be a solid on-ball defender.

As a player who has seemed to finally find his niche, Chriss has displayed his own value: dive to the hoop and sky for jams.

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Warriors honor Kobe Bryant in first home game since his passing

In the Warriors’ first home game since the passing of Kobe Bryant, Golden State paid respect to the fallen NBA legend.

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Over the past two weeks, the Golden State Warriors have been on an east coast road trip; in that time, the NBA lost a legend. Kobe Bryant. his daughter Gianna and seven others were in a fatal helicopter crash on January 26.

The Warriors’ last five-games were all played away from the Bay Area since his passing. Following the NBA trade deadline, Golden State returned to their home, the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The first game since their return, the Warriors hosted Bryant’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although time has passed, Golden State paid their respect to the late Lakers’ Most Valuable Player.

Starting with their outdoor arena video board, the Warriors displayed Bryant’s No. 8 and Gianna’s No. 2 basketball jersey as fans arrived at Chase Center.

The outdoor video board located in Golden State’s “Thrive City” in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood also displayed the names of all nine people involved in the tragic helicopter crash.

In the arena, the Warriors gave away black shirts with the Bryant’s jersey numbers of No. 8, No. 24 and No. 2 listed across the chest for those in attendance.

Before the game started, the Warriors played a video tribute to Bryant, featuring the moment he walked off the floor in Oracle Arena for the final time.

The Warriors’ two-time Most Valuable Player, joined in the tribute to Bryant, wearing his No. 24 Lakers jersey during the game along the sideline.

The Warriors will host the Lakers again in late February before traveling to Bryant’s home arena, the Staples Center, on April 9.

Stephen Curry wears Kobe Bryant jersey to Chase Center vs. Lakers

In the Golden State Warriors first game since the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry wore Bryant’s No. 24 jersey to the game versus the Lakers.

It’s been 20 days since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, and his impact is still making waves throughout the NBA.

Since the fatal helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter, Gianna and seven others, the Golden State Warriors have been on a five-game east coast road trip.

On Saturday, the Warriors had the opportunity to honor Bryant against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors paid respect to Bryant by giving away T-Shirts that labeled both his No. 8, No. 24 and his daughter’s No. 2 jersey numbers.

Before the start of the game, Golden State played a pregame video tribute featuring Bryant.

Stephen Curry, who’s spoken about his relationship with Bryant, also posted a social media commemoration in honor of the fallen NBA legend. On Saturday, Curry continued the Bryant tribute by wearing a special No. 24 jersey to Chase Center.

Curry’s missed all but four games for the Warriors and won’t have the chance to honor Bryant with his play on the court. However, the two-time Most Valuable Player is progressing through his rehab and could return from his broken hand injury in March.

If things go as scheduled, Curry could be in line to play in Golden State’s final game against the Lakers on April 9 in Los Angeles if he’s able to return healthy from his broken hand injury.

WATCH: Andrew Wiggins makes first shot of his Warriors career

Andrew Wiggins scored his first points of his Golden State Warriors career in the first quarter of their nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

After starting out 0-3 from the field, small forward Andrew Wiggins has made the first shot of his Golden State Warriors career, knocking down a corner three late in the first quarter of the Warriors’ nationally televised matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wiggins, whose career has been well-documented, has averaged 22.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals in 42 games this season. The Warriors traded for Wiggins on Thursday, sending guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Omari Spellman and guard Jacob Evans to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Wiggins, a protected first-round pick in 2021 and second-round pick in 2022.

Wiggins isn’t a great three-point shooter, knocking down 33.1 percent of his threes this season and 33.2 percent of his threes for his career. But the irony isn’t lost that Wiggins’ first field goal conversion of the game was a three-pointer, on a team with two stars known to launch shots from deep at a high volume and a high clip.

Forming a new Warriors depth chart following the NBA trade deadline

After moving six players at the NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors will have to revamp their depth chart.

With losses stacking and a chance of making a run at the playoffs unobtainable, the NBA trade deadline provided the most chatter around the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season.

The Warriors moved a total of six players out of their rotation leading up to the trade deadline. All six players were significant contributors in some form throughout Golden State’s season.

Two of the Warriors leading offensive players, D’Angelo Russell and Alec Burks are playing for new teams. Russell averaged 23.6 points per game, shooting 43.0 % from the field and 37.4 % from long distance. On top of scoring, Russell was Steve Kerr’s chief ball-handler.

Burks played a flexible, yet consistent offensive role off the bench for Kerr, scoring a career-high 16.1 points per game. Burks had two 30-point or more scoring nights in 48 games with the Warriors. Throughout the season, the veteran swingman handled the basketball for Kerr at times as well.

Without Russell and Burks, Draymond Green and Ky Bowman will slide into the primary ball-handling roles in Golden State’s rotation.

Another critical piece for the Warriors, Glenn Robinson III, is now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Robinson III started nearly every game for the Warriors, missing only six games in an overall injury-filled season for the rest of Golden State’s roster.

From the frontcourt, both Omari Spellman and Willie Cauley-Stein are in new cities. Cauley-Stein, a former starter, and Spellman, a key bench piece will push Golden State to hit the reset button on the entire rotation.

As busy as the trade deadline was, the Warriors will have to find a way to make up for six players whom all averaged 15 or more minutes per game. Russell, Burks and Robinson III each registered 29 or more minutes per game.

The newest Warrior, Andrew Wiggins, will take over a significant role in Kerr’s offense. After Wiggins, Golden State made a flurry of moves following the deadline to fill out the rest of the rotation.

In the Warriors’ first game after the trade deadline, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported Bowman, Damion Lee, Wiggins, Green and Marquese Chriss would start against the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the starting lineup, Kerr will have to test who can step up and fill out the bench unit. Rookies Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall could be in line for more minutes off the bench. Kevon Looney and Alen Smailagic could be tapped to bolster the bench frontcourt.

New members of Golden State Zach Norvell Jr, Jeremy Pargo and Juan Toscano-Anderson could add to the mix. However, all are unproven still at the NBA level.

Golden State’s new depth chart following the trade deadline could look something like this:

PG: Ky Bowman — Jeremey Pargo — Zach Norvell Jr. 

SG: Damion Lee — Jordan Poole — Zach Norvell Jr. 

SF: Andrew Wiggins — Eric Paschall — Juan Toscano-Anderson 

PF: Draymond Green — Alen Smailagic 

C: Marquese Chriss — Kevon Looney

Kerr will have the rest of February to figure out what combinations flow together until March when the Warriors’ two-time Most Valuable Player could return from injury.

Stephen Curry’s been progressing through his broken hand rehab with reports pointing towards a potential March return. A healthy version of Curry could solidify Golden State’s rotation for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.