Detailed Takeaways from the Warriors’ Road Victory Over the Rockets

1. Draymond’s Season Debut:

Draymond Green’s season debut at the Toyota Center didn’t go as smoothly as expected. He displayed signs of rust, committing three turnovers and three fouls in his first nine minutes on the court.

During this initial stretch, the Warriors were a minus-9 with him playing. Green also struggled to make an impact offensively, remaining scoreless and providing only one assist and one rebound in that period.

He played for 20 minutes in short bursts throughout the game, reflecting his lack of training camp, preseason, and the first two games due to a sprained ankle. In the end, Green tallied four points, five rebounds, five assists, and four turnovers. The starting five, including Green, played 18 minutes and 36 seconds together and were outscored 40-38.

2. Sixth Man CP3:

Chris Paul, in his first NBA game off the bench, entered the game with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, bringing stability to the team. He replaced Draymond Green, and Jonathan Kuminga replaced Andrew Wiggins, creating a lineup with Paul, Curry, Thompson, Kuminga, and Looney. Dario Saric, Gary Payton II, and Moses Moody also played significant roles in the first quarter.

When Paul entered the game, the Warriors were down 13-7, but they managed to take a 26-24 lead going into the second quarter. At halftime, the Warriors held a 10-point lead, with Paul being instrumental in helping them find their rhythm. Although Paul scored only two points in the first half, he had a plus-23 rating due to his seven assists and zero turnovers. During an eight-and-a-half-minute stretch between the first and second quarters, the Warriors were plus-16 with Paul on the court and Curry on the bench.

Paul played 27 minutes coming off the bench and had a game-high plus-22. He made a significant impact on both ends of the floor, contributing eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds, with a stellar 28 assists to five turnovers so far this season. Every bench player had a positive plus-minus, and they outscored the Rockets’ bench 41-21.

3. GP2 Finds His Shot:

Gary Payton II’s defensive prowess is well-known, but the Warriors are a more potent team when he can connect on open 3-pointers. In the game against the Rockets, Payton finally found his shooting touch. Before this game, Payton had scored a total of eight points in two games and had made just one of his five 3-point attempts, all from the corner.

However, in the win against the Rockets, Payton nearly doubled his season points tally by scoring 15. He shot an impressive 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Payton’s impact extended beyond scoring, as he posted a plus-13 rating, secured four rebounds, and recorded three steals. His defensive contributions, coupled with his improved shooting, emphasize the significance of having a full season of Payton in a Warriors uniform.