Turnovers crush Warriors as they abandon pregame plan vs. Clippers

Turnovers crush Warriors as they abandon pregame plan vs. Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Coach Steve Kerr estimated the Warriors gave away 10 possessions Sunday night at Chase Center, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 112-104 in their first loss of the 2024-25 NBA season after two consecutive blowout victories.

“Sure did,” Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area at his locker after the loss when told of the number Kerr came to.

The Warriors opened the season against the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz, two teams projected to be in the bottom of the Western Conference standings, with an average of more than 133 points. Headlines credited Buddy Hield’s blistering start shooting the ball, as well as the Warriors swarming defensively and their depth shining as bright as their biggest stars.

Another reason for the Warriors reigning supreme over the Blazers and Jazz was ball movement, as well as taking care of it, too.

Throughout their undefeated 6-0 preseason, the Warriors averaged 30 assists and 18 turnovers. Then to start the season in Portland and Utah, they averaged 36.5 assists and only 16.5 turnovers, totaling 40 more assists (73) than turnovers (33). Those numbers then took an ugly turn in front of the Warriors’ home crowd Sunday.

Steph Curry, before exiting early in the fourth quarter to a left ankle injury, had six assists but also six turnovers. Hield’s hot shooting turned cold, and his off night was accompanied by four turnovers, which were more than the three shots he made all game. Kerr used 13 players, including Lindy Waters III’s 32 seconds of run, and 10 had at least one turnover.

Kerr’s starting five tallied 11 turnovers and 10 assists, painting a picture for the team as a whole. The Warriors only had 19 assists on their 38 made shots, all while having 21 turnovers to which the Clippers scored 21 points.

“Well No. 1, the Clippers were great defensively,” Kerr said. “But we got really loose with the ball and we made some careless plays. They’re a very athletic team, very well coached. They were in spots to bother us.”

Kerr…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/turnovers-crush-warriors-abandon-pregame-063456906.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-10-28 06:50:00

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