Golden State Warriors Showcase 3-Point Prowess in Preseason Game

The Golden State Warriors are focusing on high-volume scoring and playing in transition as they integrate new players into their lineup. Under the guidance of head coach Steve Kerr, the team exhibited their offensive strategy in a 122-112 preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night. During the game, the Warriors set a new preseason record by making 28 of their 52 attempted 3-pointers, surpassing their regular-season record of hitting 27 threes reached on two occasions.

“I think almost all of them were good shots,” Kerr commented on his team’s performance. He emphasized the importance of attempting quality three-pointers from players across the roster, citing the need to fill the void left by Klay Thompson, who attempted nine three-pointers per game last season.

Several players contributed to the Warriors’ 3-point success. Notably, Jonathan Kuminga scored four times from beyond the arc, and Buddy Hield made six of his seven 3-point attempts, finishing the game as top scorer with 22 points. “Steve actually encourages it,” guard Brandin Podziemski stated. “It’s what we’ve been focusing on in camp. It’s been transition both ways and shooting threes.”

The preseason matchup against Sacramento also marked the beginning of a new collaboration between Kerr and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, who joined Golden State’s coaching staff to further develop the Warriors’ offense. Stotts, known for fostering three-point shooting in Portland, made his presence felt from the sidelines. “The stuff that we’re putting in with Terry, the Portland stuff, you saw some of that in the second half,” Kerr noted. “The flares, Buddy is built for that.”

Stotts’ influence was highlighted during the game when a play designed to free Hield for a corner three transitioned smoothly into a split action that resulted in Podziemski scoring at the rim. “That was a Terry Stotts action, the Portland stuff that he ran with Dame and CJ,” Kerr explained, referring to Portland’s former star duo Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Podziemski, who had a game-high eight assists, credited Stotts for orchestrating efficient plays, saying, “Shout out to Coach Terry. He drew up some good stuff out of timeouts that gave us some easy looks, too.” The diversified approach aims to blend both the existing and new methods, with Stotts’ roles allowing Kerr to observe and manage different aspects of the game as needed.

According to Jonathan Kuminga, who contributed 16 points and shot four successful threes, “He’s been a head coach and he knows what he’s doing. Every time he sees something and he’s helping us on the offensive end. He’s out there just trying to communicate as much as he can.”

The Warriors’ emphasis on three-pointers and ball movement appears to be a long-term strategy as they prepare for the upcoming season, aiming to enhance their already notable reputation for perimeter shooting.