The Golden State Warriors played the most complete team performance of the season, beating the Charlotte Hornets 114-92 to improve the score to 6-1. Jordan Poole and Gary Payton II rightfully dominated most of the headlines, but almost everyone contributed.
Here are some of the players' ratings:
35 minutes, 5 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 2 of 5 shooting, 1 of 3 from the free throw line
Draymond Green was everywhere, as we were expecting. He mingled with the big guys, grabbed rebounds, and hit the ball out. He served the lead at half-time. He played the sacred defense, and even though it was a rare night, he probably wasn't the Warriors' best defender.
The score drops a little bit, and you'd like to see fewer turnovers, but that's quality basketball.
Rating: b+
Post-match stats: Rebounding leads the team
29 minutes, 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4 of 13 shooting, 2 of 3 points, 4 of free throws
It was a legendary two halves for Wiggins, who played badly in the first half but scored a couple of key goals in the second half. He's struggled really this season, but he also has the knack for shooting three-pointers at the right time in more games.
Rating: c
15 minutes, 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-of-3 shooting, 1-of-4 free throws, 0 points
I don't know what to think about Wayne Rooney's game. He played some of his best offensive moments of the season, attacking the basket with and without the ball, making fouls, and shooting all the shots. But he also contributed to the turnover of the team. So I guess it's just a tedious game in a boring season for a player who isn't appreciated but lacks passion.
Rating: b -
35 minutes, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, 6-of-15 shooting, 11-of-3 points
If you're wondering one of the most interesting stats of the season, it's this: In the 35 minutes Curry played, the Warriors scored one more point than their opponents; In Curry's 13 minutes on the court, the Warriors scored 23 more points than the Hornets.
It's your daily reminder that single-game +/- should be suspected like Curry's endorsement check, but it's not a great game for the Warriors' superstar. His mistakes were out of control, it felt like he had more than four turnovers and the jump shot didn't fall. He had a hard time breaking through the defense, with only a few layups and no free throws. He's kept up the good track — good rebounds and assists, he's the biggest cheerleader on the bench — but I guess he can't wait to get back on the court on Friday.
Rating: C++
Post-match stats: Leads the team in assists
32 minutes, 31 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 11-of-21 shooting, 7-of-3 points and 2-of-2 free throws
If you blur your eyes while watching a game, you might think Poole is Curry. That's probably the impression JP has of his teammates in the backcourt: he flies around without coverage, pretends, dodges, and approaches the basket (and creates opportunities for his teammates) with the threat of a three-pointer.