?⬆️ JTA trying to encourage Wiseman through his tough game pic.twitter.com/FEyIFmNeii
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 26, 2021
The Warriors were without their heartbeat on offense (Stephen Curry) and defense (Draymond Green) and it showed in Thursday’s 141-119 blowout loss to the lowly Kings (20-25). It’s the third defeat in a row for the Warriors (22-23), who are now 3-7 in their last 10 games and play again tomorrow at home vs. the Hawks. Again they will be without Curry.
No Draymond, no defense
The Warriors strong defense has been the most consistent aspect of this very inconsistent season. Without Draymond Green in the fold (illness) it was nowhere to be found on Thursday. The Warriors made the Kings above-average offense look all-world. The Kings shot over 60% from the floor made more than half their shots from 3-point range, two figures well above their season averages. Without Green, the Warriors lacked organization and focus, giving up too many open shots due to miscommunications and overhelping.
Golden State’s inability to deal with Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox was a specific problem. Fox finished with a career-high 44 points, one night after dropping 37, and did so while hitting just one 3-point shot. Fox was a menace in the second quarter, scoring 20 points (the Warriors scored 24) while primarily guarded by Nico Mannion, who was put in a torture chamber. During one stretch in the quarter, Fox scored 11 straight points, using his incredible speed to blow by Warriors defenders who crowded him behind the arc.
????? pic.twitter.com/62F2nh2dVz
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 26, 2021
No one is arguing the Warriors should’ve drafted Tyrese Haliburton over James Wiseman, but he was unquestionably the better player on Thursday, and probably the second best player on the floor. The dynamic wing is known as more of a playmaker, but moonlighted as a deadeye shooter, dropping 21 points while going 6-for-7 from 3-point range.
Wiseman is starting, but nowhere to be found
Speaking of Wiseman, he was nowhere to be found on Thursday. He didn’t score a single point in the first half, and finished the game with 6 points in 29 minutes. He looked uncomfortable with the ball, both on flailing drives to the rim and unnecessary travels beyond the 3-point line. He led the team with 5 turnovers and 4 fouls.
Wiseman is most effective in the dunker’s spot, a position which is only useful if other players are attacking the basket. The Warriors failed in that regard on Thursday, a curious occurrence against the 30th ranked defense that lacks a rim protector.
But it can’t be argued that Wiseman was impressive in the areas he did get the ball, and he was again out rebounded by the opposing center. Richaun Holmes snatched 11 to Wiseman’s 8, including 3 on the offensive glass.
Wiseman has struggled throughout the month of March and his inclusion back into the starting lineup since last Tuesday hasn’t changed things. Most concerning is that Wiseman looks measurably worse than he did earlier in the season, and his wrist injury and multiple COVID setbacks may have contributed to that. Steve Kerr has said he will continue to play the big man significant minutes for the rest of the season, and it’s safe to assume his play will improve with the inclusion of Curry and Green back into the lineup.
Nico Mannion has career night following promotion
For Warriors rookie Nico Mannion it was promotion by subtraction. The Warriors traded backup point guard Brad Wanamaker at the deadline on Thursday, essentially handing the job to Mannion for the remainder of the season. Mannion had already took the job for all intents and purposes earlier this month, but he rewarded the vote of confidence with the best game of his career on Thursday. Mannion dropped a career-high 19 points on 5-of-8 from 3-point range.
The other notable performance came from Andrew Wiggins, whose 15 first quarter points had the Warriors leading 37-35 after 12 minutes in what looked like a shootout. Ultimately the game fell apart, but Wiggins remained excellent all-around, dropping 26 points (10-18) with 10 rebounds and 4 assists. It was a nice bounce back after an atrocious performance vs. the Sixers in which he scored just 14 points and nearly fouled out.