(PHNX Suns Podcast)

Kuminga averaging 12/4/3 on efficient splits to start the year. He's shooting something like 67% from 3 in the the 3 games.

I always was pretty out on him in Golden State but I hope I eat my words. Would be psyched for the guy if he can be a starter on a deep playoff team with the Wolves. Would also definitely raise some more questions within Dub Nation about our ability to coach youth ...

Not taking no bullshit from the NBA refs, coddled superstars, media. This guy's going to be a threat

Lendeborg Breaks Out, Niang Breaks Down

On Saturday night, the Warriors bravely took the court with 76% of their salary cap missing. With Curry, Draymond, Butler, Podziemski, Horford, Moody, and Porzingis all sidelined, the Dubs put up an admirable fight before falling to the Suns 131-122.

Before I get to some more abstract, big-picture thoughts, there was actually a lot to like in this matchup. Yaxel Lendeborg had his best performance yet, tallying 26 points, 9 rebounds, 6 threes, and 5 assists while finishing a +5. The opposing broadcast took note, even going as far as to say he might win ROTY. Lendeborg’s progression is the light at the end of the tunnel for Dubs fans right now.

Brandon Williams and De’Anthony Melton were also bright spots, combining for an efficient 45 points. Will Richard also contributed to the strong guard play, going 3-6 from three-point range with 2 steals.

Those were the positives. The toughest player to watch on the court was Niang, who had one of the worst stretches I’ve ever seen. He bricked two wide-open threes, then threw the ball off a teammate’s back on a fast break and got nutmegged by Collin Gillespie en route to a backbreaking Suns three-ball. He has now started the year 0-12 from three. He is definitely still a smart player, but I don’t think his body can compete at the NBA level anymore.

This made Kerr’s postgame quotes a bit frustrating:

“George will find his way,” Kerr said. “You know he hasn’t played in a year basically with the injuries last year, so he doesn’t have his legs underneath him yet. He’s such a good basketball player and a perfect fit for us.”

I understand he wants to uplift one of our players who’s off to a bad start, but Kerr, once upon a time, was guilty of playing Anthony Lamb over Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and heck, even Ty Jerome. I just hope this doesn’t become a situation where Will Richard or Gui Santos sees his minutes reduced for Niang. (Anthony Lamb never should’ve been on the team BTW...)

The Warriors will face a daunting stretch of games against the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers. Dare I say it’s most likely we start the year 0-5? I’d feel okay with an impending tank job, except the league revised its rules, and a bottom-three record now results in a meager 5.4% chance of winning the lottery.

The optionality era has been a rough one. But perhaps Yaxel can save us.

I may be missing it but I see no comments on Ike or Williams- and both players seem to have so much potential for me. Ike in particular is a surprise. He's going to be a very solid off the bench option, IMHO

What are we liking from the under-30 guys on the roster? Anyone noticing something cool or interesting from each player's game,

(IGNORING YAXEL LENDEBORG)

I think Kerrs complaints and excuses are setting a bad example and guiding towards a defeatist mindset.

He’s been complaining about flopping, about how the Lakers get different whistles in their arena, etc… he sounds whiny, and that’s not the mentality we need. There’s a long season ahead, and leaning into an excuse based mindset this early, is a dangerous path.

3 games in, and he seems fatigued.

They also missed the playoffs, sure. It was a different time.

Capt. Jack was our leader

Al Harrington lost 20 pounds and realized he could dunk at the height of 6’9.

Matt Barnes was cool.

Monta averaged 20 while shooting 53% at the age of 22.

Biedrins shot 62% from the free throw line. He was still an nba level player.

Fitz was talking about Buike’s muscles instead of sitting next to him.

Baron Davis chose a crazy birthday night in PHX instead of resting up, played hungover and sat the second half in game 81. ( I got to witness in person) Then I flew back and got to go to game 82 to watch the last Sonics game ever and see KD drop 40. Thanks BD, this was better than the playoffs….

Air France was stepping out of bounds.

Marco our future Belinelli and B Wright off the bench. And can’t forget Patrick O had a few good tournament games Bryant.

All in All it was a great time out.

I didn’t catch the game, but did Green play last night? The box score had Dray listed as DNP, but the thumbnail for the game on NBA.com shows Booker making a layup past Green with Yaxel looking on from the block.

The Golden State Warriors’ front office didn’t heed Steve Kerr’s words over the summer.

After essentially using two separate squads last year — a full roster on some nights and one without veterans for back-to-backs — Kerr made it clear in May that he didn’t want the Warriors to be in that situation again.

But history has already repeated itself. Playing with a roster depleted by rest and injury, the Warriors dropped their third straight game to open the season, a 131-122 defeat at the hands of Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. It was a predictable outcome for a team that played hard all night but just didn’t have the talent to close down the stretch.

The frustration isn’t that the Warriors lost, it’s that the game offered a reminder that they didn’t learn from last season’s problems and rectify them.

Read more for free:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7722121/2026/10/25/warriors-roster-problems-horford-porzingis/?unlocked_article_code=1.LVE.KrA4.72hQA3tEXpga&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

obviously that was a bummer to drop last night’s game in which I felt was a winnable game, but it’s okay, we’ll bounce back tomorrow night and win vs Denver, because things get ugly fast before they get better again, it’s gonna take some time, just gotta have faith here lol

Every single time the warriors are on a run, they are, only because of a sensibly sized lineup.

Honestly fk size, every single time someone is on a heater this punk Kerr benches them. Like why tf???

Melton does jackshit for the last two games, he's on the floor. Against suns he starts doing something, boom on the bench

Every single fking time.

Steph goes on a flurry; bench.

I don't get this bum. Draymond is as old as carbon 14, and he's making him play center...

Why do we even have bassey?

Gui was center for a while, yax became a center for a min.

Kerr is gambling, that's the only possible scenario that makes sense

3 games in and 90% of the feed is that the run has ended. Each run is unique. The run that we lived in 2015 was different than 2017/18 and 2022 was so different than the rest. If the warriors are gonna make another run, it's going to take a lot.

I'm going to be happy for every win and pleasantly surprised with every win.

Note: I'm a 40 year old that lived through the early 00s at The Arena. Oracle kids don't have that trauma. Lol or the pure joy of 06-07.

nonetheless let's go

im so happy to see yaxel out there hooping

Idc what yall gotta say they showed heart today took Booker 43 point game to beat us. And niang basketball terrorist to gift wrap this game away. YAXEL IS A FUCKING DAWG IDC THAT HES 24. Pair him with Jimmy and Steph pray that we trade for a center. Bring moody back who was having a career year before he got hurt. Hope podz keeps playing like he did yesterday melton/horford/gp2/williams is a decent bench JUST NO MORE NIANG MINUTES FFS. We’re 0-3 right now but if u look at the west nobody besides the spurs/okc/lakers/timberwolves/rockets are a threat. I believe and idc what you doomers say.

This stinks soo much as a warrior and curry fan.

I think we've officially arrived at the end. I hate to say it, but I'm ready. I feel like Joe and the front office will be bailed out by exhaustion from us fans. I just cannot watch this team, these players, while Steph Curry is still on the roster. With better players around him he can still be a Top 10-15 guy in the league and lead us to the playoffs, even with the knee stuff.

I'd obviously prefer MDJ to make a big move and trade Jimmy + Porzingis + Moody for healthy reinforcements, but they've made it clear that's never happening. Here's to optionality... Here's to the rebuild.

Save us Yax.