Schröder’s nightmare Warriors debut a blip in the midst of much bigger problems first appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Dennis Schröder’s first pitch in his Warriors debut on Wednesday night was a clear example of why general manager Mike Dunleavy didn’t waste any time, getting out and getting a veteran guard the first time you can. The speedy guard beat Ja Morant to the point in front of him, pulled up and hit a 12-footer from midfield.
His first two points were also the Warriors’ first two of the night after starting in an 8-0 hole. It’s only very, very bad from there in the Warriors’. embarrassing loss 144-93 blow against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
The Warrior freshman took four more shots in the first quarter and missed all four as Golden State trailed Memphis by 22 points, 37-15. He picked up four more in the second quarter. Again, Schröder came up empty every time. Only now, the Warriors’ deficit at halftime grew to 31 points, 69-38.
Schröder missed his first attempt of the second half, giving him nine consecutive misses, before finally hitting another mid-range jumper from 18 feet with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter. The two points made it a 41-point game, 90-49.
A minute later, Schröder lost again, one last time. With five minutes left in the third quarter and the Warriors down by 46 points, Schröder’s first game in Golden State ropes came to an early, unforgettable end.
“Dennis is like a guy on a new team,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the devastating loss. “It’s always difficult to trade midseason and play with a new team and have different terms and all that stuff.”
Through his first 23 games playing for the Brooklyn Nets this season, Schröder, in his 12th NBA campaign, is enjoying perhaps his best offensive production. While his 18.4 points per game ranks as the third-best of his career, it’s his efficiency, both inside and behind the 3-point line, that shines the most. Not in his first game as a Warrior, though. Like the rest of his teammates, nothing went Schroder’s way.
He played a total of 22 minutes and scored five points, his lowest total this season. Schröder went 2 of 12 from the field, missing all four of his 3-point attempts and missing two of his free throws. While his five assists were a team-high, Schroder’s four turnovers were also tied for the most on the Warriors.
Blaming him for beating the Warriors will be unforgivable as a product of Kerr’s players on the floor for 48 minutes. Schröder’s nightmarish debut was only a blip in the Warriors’ Very Big Problem.
“Look, they did a great job on Steph (Curry),” Kerr said. “Teaching him everywhere, making all his drinking difficult. … We’ve lost nine of 11. We’re rolling and we’ve got to bounce back, obviously.”
Somehow, Schröder is better his new backcourt mate and future Hall of Famer. Curry played 24 minutes and scored two points. He took seven shots and could not convert once, including all six of his 3-point shots.
Thursday marked only the seventh time in Curry’s 16-year NBA career that he didn’t make at least one shot in a game, but his 24 most impressive minutes without doing so, as well as seven missed shots. That is also what happened when a 36-year-old dealing with bilateral knee injurieswith the recent heat in his neck area, has been guarded for all 94 feet and no one has really threatened the opposition to change their strategy.
The Grizzlies deny and top-lock Curry wherever he goes, regardless of his distance from the hoop. They want to let anyone else beat them, or at least try.
Andrew Wiggins was the Warriors’ only effective scorer, giving them 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 4 of 5 from long range. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins couldn’t care less. Jonathan Kuminga was sent back to the bench and went 2 of 12 from the field for 11 points. Brandin Podziemski scored a team-high 21 points off the bench, however, 16 were in the fourth quarter when the Warriors went into the final frame trailing the Grizzlies. about 50 points.
Announced at the beginning of the season when the Warriors opened with a 12-3 record, their defense has allowed 287 points in the last two games. They scored 46 first-quarter points against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, only to watch the Grizzlies score 37 in the first a few days later, rolling in late and forward assists for shots throughout the entire game.
Bringing in Schröder is a useful, important addition. Judging taking away from a game would be asinine.
Everything outside of Schröder’s debut is a worrying trend that the Warriors can’t hang around forever to solve if there’s any chance of salvage this season, and taking advantage of Curry’s final years can only give the franchise that you already know.
