October 26th 2024.
The basketball court at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City has the same regulation-sized rims as all 30 NBA arenas. However, for Buddy Hield, any rim seems gigantic right now. After leading the Warriors in scoring during their first game against Portland, Hield continued to shine against the Jazz. In just two games, he has shown the organization that he is the perfect replacement for Klay Thompson.
In the game against Utah, Hield scored an impressive 27 points, shooting 10-for-14 from the field in just 20 minutes off the bench. He also contributed six assists, four rebounds, and a steal. It's safe to say that he has been on fire, scoring a total of 49 points in only 35 minutes as a Warrior and making 12 out of 13 three-pointers. With Hield's performance, the Warriors dominated the Jazz, winning 127-86 with their relentless defense and rebounding. Andrew Wiggins also had a career-high 13 rebounds, and the team held the Jazz to a low 32% shooting percentage. They were able to force turnovers and put pressure on the Jazz, leading to aimless possessions.
The Warriors stuck with their starting lineup of Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, hoping to give them a strong start to the season. However, they struggled in their first game against Portland and continued to struggle in the beginning of the game against Utah. In fact, they fell behind 13-6 before coach Steve Kerr substituted Gary Payton II for Jackson-Davis. The spacing issues that this particular lineup has been facing once again became apparent.
But the Warriors' bench, which was expected to be their strength, stepped up and saved the day for the second game in a row. They have now scored a total of 150 bench points in just two games, including 80 in their latest game against Utah.
Payton played a crucial role in a 14-2 run, making two steals and forcing a jump ball. Hield also contributed with two three-pointers, and Curry added another to their score. Thanks to their strong defense, they were able to turn the game around and take a commanding 32-24 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Warriors' intensified defensive effort limited the Jazz to only two made field goals in over five minutes. And then, Hield took over the game, scoring or assisting on all seven of the Warriors' last baskets in the first half.
Hield scored an impressive 16 points in the second quarter alone, bringing his total to 24 points in just 14 minutes. He was able to leak out on fast breaks, space the floor, and make shots from anywhere on the arc. By halftime, he had made nine out of 11 field goals and six out of seven three-pointers. It was a remarkable performance from the player who has been bouncing around different teams despite being the league's leader in three-point makes for the past five seasons. But with the Warriors' system, he has found a perfect fit. He has always been a fan of the team's style of play, and he has even studied Curry's moves extensively. After their first game, he mentioned that he felt the freest he has felt since his college days at Oklahoma.
Although he may not be a superstar like he was in college, Hield has shown that he can still dominate the game, just like when he was a Sooner. His incredible performance in the first half gave the Warriors a 56-42 lead that they maintained throughout the game. In the second half, the same lineup that started the game slow came out strong, going on a 13-3 run. They were able to turn their defense into offense, and Curry found his rhythm, scoring more points.
When Hield returned to the court, the Warriors had extended their lead to 24 points. He quickly added two more assists, one of which was a beautiful pass that led to a three-pointer by Brandin Podziemski. Just like Thompson, Hield's reputation as a sharpshooter forced Utah's defense to bend and allowed his teammates more opportunities to score. Hield's fifth assist of the game was a left-handed pass to Curry on the wing, who made another three-pointer. By the end of the game, Hield had made a total of seven three-pointers, giving the Warriors a 94-67 lead. They were clearly dominating the game, and Hield had set a new NBA record for most three-pointers made by a player in his first two games with a new team.
The Warriors have now won both of their opening games by a whopping 77 points. With a true 12-man rotation, they were able to wear down their opponents and easily handle both the Blazers and the Jazz. Although these teams may not be strong contenders for the postseason this year, the Warriors have shown great promise in their first two games. They will face tougher challenges in the future, but their strong start to the season is a good sign for the team.
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