The One Non-steph Curry Play In Win Over Lakers That Truly Exemplified Warriors

The one non-Steph Curry play in win over Lakers that truly exemplified Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Friday-night sequence featuring Lakers star Luka Dončić crumpling to the floor trying to defend Stephen Curry went viral because nothing captivates NBA fans quite like three seconds of spectacle.

This was the latest Super Steph Moment, and he punctuated it by draining a triple that pushed the Warriors’ lead from nine to 12 midway through the third quarter.

Yet an earlier sequence was more crucial to the Warriors’ astonishing comeback win and, moreover, provided a glimpse of ferocity they’ll need to compete at the NBA’s highest level.

With the Warriors down 11 in the second quarter and Curry on the bench, backup big man Charles Bassey stifled a dunk attempt by Los Angeles center Walker Kessler. De’Anthony Melton grabbed the loose ball, triggering a fast break that was completed with his 30-foot lob to Yaxel Lendeborg, who slammed the ball through the net with 7:17 left in the quarter.

Lakers coach JJ Redick, the crowd’s roar ringing in his ears, immediately signaled for a timeout. It didn’t help. Five electrifying seconds sent pulses racing throughout Chase Center and among the Warriors.

“I thought that was play of the game for us,” coach Steve Kerr said Saturday.

The Lakers, over the rest of the quarter, shot 33.3 percent (4 of 12) from the field and committed four turnovers.  They shot 37.8 percent in the second half while committing nine turnovers.

LA scored 42 points in the first 17 minutes, 53 over the last 31, which came after 6-foot-10 Bassey rejected 7-foot-2 Kessler – the guy who savaged the Warriors with 10 dunks in the season opener – at the rim.

“Not only is it huge for the energy of the game but I think it’s awesome as a team,” Georges Niang said. “Charles has been working his tail off. I was with Charles in Philadelphia, where he kind of had his first crack at the NBA.”

Bassey, who missed the first two games of the season with knee soreness, is a much more athletic but slightly less instinctive version of former Warrior Kevon Looney. He’s a smallish center who compensates with effort and fortitude.

And Bassey was the first leg of a pivotal sequence in Golden State’s 112-95 victory that evened its record at 3-3.
Melton represented the second leg, rushing up the court and delivering a timely and accurate lob. Lendeborg was the final third, providing his lone highlight on a night when he stung himself with critiques.

“To have a guy that is battling injuries, fighting for his NBA life, and to go out there and impact the game like that,” Niang said, “and then finish it with an enormous dunk where Yaxel wasn’t clicking on all cylinders offensively – but he’s been awesome for us – just to have all that is the beauty of the game of basketball. It all connects.”

There will be many nights when the Warriors face a bigger, longer and younger team with the deeper pool of athleticism and talent. They’re in the process of figuring out what they must do to beat such teams. Their longtime No. 1 scorer is Curry, and they’ve identified Lendeborg as their No. 2. Draymond Green fills voids on both ends.

Golden State’s defense, however, is in its early stages – or at least they hope that is the case. Through six games, the Warriors are 22nd in defensive rating, with only four teams allowing more transition points and only two – the Suns and Kings – allowing a higher effective field-goal percentage. 

Melton and Niang are becoming defensive forces. Bassey seems to enjoy defense, and Kerr made it clear that he deserves a bump in minutes. That alone could fill some of the gap that exists without Kristaps Porzingis while also making Draymond’s life a bit easier.

The defensive energy on display while limiting the potent LA offense to 57 points over the final three quarters is a start.

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