Assessing every Golden State player’s performance from the team’s 128-92 win over Charlotte.
The Golden State Warriors did exactly what they needed to do on Tuesday, demolishing the Charlotte Hornets 128-92. It was, remarkably, the most competitive game that Charlotte has had in a while.
Things went exactly as planned for Golden State. They won easily, they didn’t have to play their best players heavy minutes, they avoided injury, and they built on the momentum that they’ll carry into a five-game road trip that begins on Thursday.
So let’s grade the players. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Tuesday’s games, league-average TS was 57.4%.
Jimmy Butler III
19 minutes, 6 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3-for-8 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, 0-for-1 free throws, 35.5% TS, +17
It’s hard to grade gams like Tuesday’s, because the Warriors were such overwhelming favorites that they could kind of do whatever they wanted. Butler, for instance, had a poor scoring night, but he also surely entered the arena knowing the Warriors didn’t need him to score. He seemed to just have fun setting up teammates, turning on the defense, and bullying Charlotte on the glass.
Wild fact: he has just one turnover and one foul in his last four games, combined.
Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Moses Moody
23 minutes, 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 4-for-5 shooting, 3-for-3 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 110.5% TS, +25
For anyone wondering at home: yes, 110.5% true shooting is good efficiency. Very good efficiency.
Grade: A-
Draymond Green
23 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 6-for-12 shooting, 1-for-5 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 58.2% TS, +14
There were a lot of defensive possessions on Tuesday where it felt like Draymond had wandered into his local 24 Hour Fitness and joined a pickup game. I mean that as both a compliment to Green and an insult to the Hornets.
With Victor Wembanyama out for the year, Green just might have an outside chance at snagging his second Defensive Player of the Year trophy, and it sure feels like he’s trying for it. More importantly, it sure feels like he is strong in his belief that the Dubs can contend.
Grade: A
Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Brandin Podziemski
25 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 4-for-6 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 72.7% TS, +24
The biggest compliment I can give Podz after watching that game is that you just know the Hornets wish they had a few players like him on their roster.
Grade: A
Steph Curry
24 minutes, 15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 6-for-14 shooting, 2-for-9 threes, 1-for-1 free throws, 51.9% TS, +26
Not Curry’s best shooting performance, but he scored in a flurry in the first quarter to effectively end the game (yes, it felt over that early), and he was masterful quarterbacking the offense all night.
Grade: B-
Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists, best plus/minus on the team.
Gary Payton II
14 minutes, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 6-for-9 shooting, 2-for-2 threes, 77.8% TS, +11
GPII is usually on the court strictly for his defense. But it almost felt like, because Charlotte didn’t have anyone good enough to be worthy of his defensive abilities, he decided to show what he can do on offense instead. One of his best offensive games ever, as a passer, shooter, and finisher.
Grade: A+
Buddy Hield
20 minutes, 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 6-for-11 shooting, 4-for-9 threes, 0-for-1 free throws, 69.9% TS, +17
Hield seems to have really embraced his role as a high-energy spark plug. He no longer seems intent on scoring big numbers, but is happy to just fly around the court improving the energy and effort level of the team. I’m loving it.
Grade: A
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
Kevon Looney
13 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, 1-for-3 shooting, 2-for-2 free throws, 51.5% TS, +18
I kind of love these games where the Warriors don’t need Looney, but he shows up anyone and just kind of reminds other teams that they still have a bruiser.
Grade: B
Gui Santos
19 minutes, 3 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1-for-5 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 1-for-1 free throws, 27.6% TS, +17
I’m becoming a broken record, I know, but I just absolutely love watching Santos play basketball. He brings the energy and passion of a basketball-obsessed kid yet he’s proving with every game to be an NBA talent.
It still results in being a little over-eager at times, but good things happen when Gui is on the court, even when he doesn’t have a good shooting game.
Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Quinten Post
18 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 3-for-8 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 45.0% TS, +6
When the Warriors traded for Butler, I didn’t think too much about how he might help other players grow. I thought he would be a great mentor for Jonathan Kuminga, but hadn’t given other players much thought. But we’ve seen with Podziemski and Moody how much they’ve grown in Butler’s short time, and I think we’ve seen it with Post, who seems to be playing with some extra aggression. He got ejected in here after twice mixing it up with Hornets in the closing minutes. There was absolutely nothing dirty about it, it was just a statement “just because the outcome is decided doesn’t mean we’re not coming for you” intensity. The bench loved it. There’s no way he’s paying those fines.
It wasn’t the smoothest game for him, but he’s showing attitude and aggression to match his size, and it’s exciting.
Grade: B
Kevin Knox II
15 minutes, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 foul, 4-for-7 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 76.1% TS, +5
This game was such a blowout that the garbage time began in the third quarter, so Knox got some serious run, which was really great to see. And he had the type of performance that will make the Warriors have to consider giving him meaningful minutes at some point down the road. He scored aggressively at the rim, and with shots from the perimeter. He crashed the glass, set up his teammates, and played great defense. Just a spectacular showing.
Grade: A+
Pat Spencer
10 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3-for-9 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 33.3% TS, -1
Some nice defense and rebounding from Spencer, though he didn’t have the offensive success that we’ve seen from him on a few occasions this season.
Grade: B-
Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Yuri Collins
10 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -1
Two days after making his NBA debut, Collins got in his second game and things slowed down for him a little bit. There were definitely some glimpses of a good defender and playmaker there, that’s for sure.
Grade: B
Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Jackson Rowe
8 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 2-for-3 shooting, 2-for-2 free throws, 77.3% TS, +2
A little less garbage time for Rowe than for some of his teammates, but he made up for it with a hot hand on offense.
Grade: B+
Tuesday’s inactives: Taran Armstrong, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jonathan Kuminga,