In today’s Dub Hub:
- Steve Kerr wants the Warriors to remain a “high volume” three-point shooting team this season.
- Draymond Green shares his thoughts on Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s offseason moves.
- Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo passed away at the age of 58.
The Golden State Warriors tipped off their first day of training camp on Tuesday at BYU-Hawaii, giving fans and media a first look at this season’s roster in action.
During a media session, head coach Steve Kerr discussed various aspects of the team, including his vision for the Warriors to continue being a “high volume” three-point shooting squad.
For the past four seasons, the Warriors have ranked in the top five in the NBA in three-point attempts per game. Last season, they averaged 38.9 attempts per game, converting 38% from beyond the arc. For comparison, last season’s champions the Boston Celtics led the league with 42.5 attempts per game, shooting at a 38.8% clip.
Much of the Warriors’ three-point production came from the Splash Brothers, with Stephen Curry leading the team at 11.8 attempts per game, followed by Klay Thompson with 8.8. However, with Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, a significant number of attempts are now up for grabs.
While an over-reliance on three-pointers has sometimes been a symptom of a stagnant offense for Golden State, several players on the team have mentioned how they specifically focused their offseason training on improving their shooting from deep. Combining that with the new additions to the team like Buddy Hield, who is a 40% career three-point shooter, Kerr now has multiple options as he looks to replace Thompson’s production and maintain the team’s identity as a high-volume three-point shooting force.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, October 2nd:
Warriors News:
Warriors embrace Hawaii’s beauty as camp opens: ‘This is not a bad vibe’ | San Francisco Chronicle
Kerr also reiterated he wants to incorporate more offensive structure – while maintaining Golden State’s longtime offensive principles of ball and player movement – with the hope of better maximizing its younger players.
Accordingly, he added offensive guru Terry Stotts to his coaching staff.
Regarding shots the Warriors generate, he wants volume 3-point shooting – mentioning Podziemski, Wiggins, Melton and swingman Moses Moody as potential volume shooters, citing Thompson’s departure and the void it leaves; he attempted nine 3-pointers per game last season.
Kerr: Warriors’ starting 5, identity to emerge from competition | ESPN
“This feels like a new beginning for us, whereas last year felt like an extension of who we already were,” Kerr said. “... It gives us a chance to reinvent ourselves a little bit.”
He continued: “It’s easier when you know your starting five and you know your first four guys off of the bench. Way easier as a coach knowing that. But we don’t have that. So let’s turn that into a positive and turn it into competition. ... Let’s establish our identity out of that competition.”
Draymond offers truth bomb on Warriors GM Dunleavy’s offseason moves | NBC Sports Bay Area
“One move in this league, it can pretty much set you up for how the next 10 years of your organization is going to go. Sometimes the best deal you can make is to not make a deal, and I think we did a great job in going out and getting pieces that are going to help this team grow, that will allow young guys the opportunity to grow and yet keeping the future of this organization as bright as it’s ever been.”
Kyle Anderson showing off his new jump shot at Warriors training camp
Buddy Hield puts up extra shots after Day 1 of training camp
NBA News:
How Dikembe Mutombo defended the hoop, hope and happiness | NBA
For 18 seasons Mutombo was among the most popular players in the sport, rarified space for a 7-foot-2 center who didn’t play above the rim, gyrate in the air, score points in bunches or sell sneakers.
But by blocking shots, rebounding and unifying the teams he played for, Mutombo forged a connection with fans anyway. They witnessed the joy and determination he showed on the defensive side of the court, how he protected the rim, how he sacrificed for the goal of winning, and it endeared him to them.
This was best captured in 1994 by John Elway, the great NFL quarterback of the Denver Broncos, who played hype man before Game 3 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series against the Seattle SuperSonics and announced over the McNichols Arena public address: “So let’s get ready to … Mu-tom-bo!”
Why the Suns, Thunder, Pistons(!) and others will exceed expectations this NBA season | The Athletic
Seriously, the bar is now low enough in Detroit that even the Pistons should have little trouble skipping over it. While there is the depressing fact that the Pistons would not have cleared a 24.5-win over-under in any season since 2018-19 (I hear you, Detroit fans: “Hey, buddy, we pro-rated to 24.8 in the COVID year!”), new management under Trajan Langdon and a new coach in the previously mentioned Bickerstaff augurs more hopefully for the coming season.
LeBron James and son Bronny James interview together at Lakers Media Day
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Who will be second to Curry for made three-pointers on the Warriors?
The leading candidate for me is Buddy Hield, a guy who launched 568 bombs last year and nailed 219 of them, good enough for a 38% clip. For his career he’s a 40% shooter, and once made 288 threes as recently as the 2022-2023 season.
Sophomore Brandin Podziemski made 90 of his 234 attempts last year from 3PT range, good enough for a 38% accuracy as well. I’m sure he’ll get plenty of opportunities to jack more triples in Thompson’s absence.
