Trail Blazers vs. Warriors, November 4

Final Score: Warriors 127, Trail Blazers 118

I wrote this post the day after this game. It was Golden State's first home win at the Chase Center, where rookie Eric Paschall posted a career high 34 points and 13 rebounds on his 23rd birthday. This was a very exciting game and gave us a good glimpse at the youth on this Warriors roster.

Eric Paschall can BALL

I stand by what I said: Eric Paschall at 41 was a STEAL! I watched him at Villanova and I loved the poise he brought on the floor, the patience he had, and we know he's a proven offensive player. On his 23rd birthday, Paschall dropped a career-high 34 points to go along with 13 rebounds. What was most impressive was his ability to do it from all 3 levels. We knew he had a solid inside game, but he was hitting mid-range jumpers too, plus showed off his range from 3, hitting 4-5. That type of versatility will certainly help this Warriors team moving forward.

Young guys stepping up! On both ends of the court!

The young guys came to play. Against the Blazers, you could tell there was a renewed confidence after coming close to beating the Hornets at home, but this time they made sure to close the game out. Tied at 99, the young Warriors took off on a 12-0 run to seal the game down the stretch, showing their ability to create for each other and get stops on the defensive end. This was a promising step forward for this young group still learning to win.

Expect more tough nights, but this was a glimpse into the future

While it was an exciting win, we know this won't be a regular showing, not in today's NBA. With so much parity across the league, each night is becoming a tougher fight to come out with a victory. This team is young, but we saw flashes of promising nights to come. The way these young guys came together to get this win was exciting and will certainly help to boost their confidence as they face the league moving forward.

Ky Bowman: who he?!

With both Curry and Russell sidelined with injuries, Ky Bowman was presented with the opportunity to step up and show he belongs. Bowman went on to finish with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists. Not only did we see his ability to produce on the offensive end (finding his shots, creating for others), but I loved the tenacity he brought on the defensive side. On-ball, being the help defender, Bowman helped to disrupt the flow of the Blazers offense, which is no easy task considering the two-headed monster of a backcourt that the Blazers possess.

Still high on Jordan Poole, I want him to be aggressive. Miss shots, keep taking them!

I still love the draft pick in Jordan Poole. This kid shows so much confidence and isn't afraid to back down, even if he's missing shots. While he may have shot 3-15 from the field, Poole showed poise at the free throw line down the stretch, which helped to hold off the Blazers as they attempted to mount a comeback. This young man needs to continue shooting as he does because we know those shots will really start to fall in the time to come.

 

Alec Burks providing a great spark off the bench

After being sidelined with an ankle injury for all of training camp and partway into the beginning of the season, Burks is beginning to look more comfortable in the Warriors' system. His ability to create off the dribble helped through the beginning of the 4th quarter, especially when the offense began to look stagnant.

This looked more like Warriors basketball tonight: motion offense was moving, guys were flying around screens, getting to their spots. Defense looked more fluid and connected tonight; better communication, timely doubles to shut down both Dame and CJ. They did a great job of forcing other players to make shots.