SAN FRANCISCO — In the aftermath of De’Anthony Melton’s torn ACL that sent the Warriors’ rotation and record into a spiral, Steve Kerr tried to elevate Brandin Podziemski into the starting shooting guard spot, talking as if he wanted Podziemski to grab firm hold of it and get his second season on track.
It didn’t happen. Podziemski’s offensive struggles have only deepened in the weeks since. During Sunday night’s 143-133 loss to the Mavericks — an eighth loss in 10 games for the Warriors — Podziemski missed four of his five shots, dropping his season shooting percentage to 37.6 percent, fourth lowest in the NBA among players who’ve taken at least 150 shots. He’s made only 25 percent of his 3s.
His lowlight Sunday came midway through the fourth quarter with the Warriors’ chances slipping. He was hesitant to fire a right-corner 3 on the catch, pump-faked, took a single dribble and trapped himself. Luka Dončić engulfed him. He spun around a couple of times and was forced to fling a no-chance grenade at the rim.
Dončić blocked it. The Mavericks pushed the rebound in transition. Klay Thompson popped open for 3. The Mavericks went up 12. The Warriors called timeout and Podziemski subbed out of the game. After the loss, Kerr was spotted having an extended conversation with Podziemski before exiting for the locker room. Kerr declined to detail specifics on it.
— HHTVids (@HHTVids) December 16, 2024
On Monday, the Warriors’ newest guard arrives. Dennis Schröder will take his physical Monday, practice Tuesday and debut for the Warriors on Thursday night in Memphis. Kerr wouldn’t officially name Schröder the immediate starting shooting guard, but it’s clear that the most influential decision-makers believe that is where it’ll land quickly.
“He would seem to be a perfect fit to start next to Steph (Curry),” Kerr said.
Melton’s injury paved the way for Schröder’s arrival. His absence created an opening and their contracts matched nearly perfectly for a trade. But Podziemski’s offensive struggles generated the extra level of urgency to get it done on the first day Melton and Schröder became trade eligible.
The noise from the Warriors during the offseason and training camp signaled that Podziemski would step into a bigger playmaking and shot-creation role. His inability to do it efficiently has partly revealed the team’s biggest flaw. The Warriors entered Sunday night as the league’s fourth-best defense but sat 14th offensively, and it’s been a whole lot worse lately.
“We actually need a pick-and-roll player right now,” Kerr said. “The last 10 games our pick-and-roll efficiency is dead last in the league. Teams are loading up on Steph. You can’t ask him to run every pick-and-roll. Dennis is a pick-and-roll player. I think if you look at the league, the way it has evolved the last few years, the best offenses all have two point guards, whether it’s Dallas or Cleveland or Indiana. I think Boston has three or four guys who can run pick-and-roll. I just feel like in the modern NBA, you need multiple pick-and-roll players.”
The Warriors, rather famously, aren’t a heavy pick-and-roll operation. But Kerr made the point that they adjusted their style last season to Chris Paul’s strengths and he’d be willing to do so again for Schröder.
“Dennis is a guy who, yes, he likes running pick-and-roll,” Kerr said. “We like running off-ball stuff. But we like running both. A year ago, we had Chris Paul, and Chris was great. We ran a ton of pick-and-roll with Chris and our offense was pretty good, I think seventh at the end of the year in efficiency. But what we didn’t have last year was two-way basketball. We were not good defensively.”
Here is Steve Kerr on the Dennis Schröder addition. No official decisions yet but: “Would seem to be a perfect fit to start next to Steph.”
Schröder will be in Bay Area tomorrow. Kerr talked to him on phone today: “I told Dennis today he kicked my ass on three continents.” pic.twitter.com/hmrrvwVRiS
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 15, 2024
The Warriors have been starting Buddy Hield ahead of Podziemski lately to provide some spacing and scoring. But Hield has defensive deficiencies. Schröder is shorter but more disruptive on that end.
“We’re fourth in the league,” Kerr said. “That shouldn’t change if we stay healthy. In fact, Dennis should add to it. He’s an excellent defender. Where we need help, frankly, is offense. Our last 10 games we are dead last in efficiency. I don’t care what I try to run, I just want to run something that’s efficient. We’ll adapt very easily to Dennis.”
Draymond Green put it this way after the game: “I don’t think he was necessarily brought here to fit. We play a certain style of basketball he does not really play. We need someone who can do the things he does. I’m looking forward to us adjusting to him.”
In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Mavericks, Curry looked exhausted. He’s a few months from his 37th birthday and dealing with nagging bumps. His double knee tendinitis has forced him out of a few games, and he was questionable against Dallas because of neck soreness. Schröder’s offensive gifts should lessen Curry’s burden, which general manager Mike Dunleavy felt was a must. Curry, who was in on the Schröder conversation, agreed.
“What helps me, helps us,” Curry said.
It won’t look the same as Melton. They’re different players. Melton is a bigger defender who fits easier in a complementary role. But Schröder boosts the offense better than anybody they’ve tried at that shooting guard spot, and he’s about to get an extended look in the lead-up to the trade deadline, as Dunleavy waits to assess whether this team needs another move.
“Able to play on or off the ball, excellent defender, long wingspan,” Kerr said. “He’s a steals guy, forces turnovers, pace. Everything that we need, we feel like he can provide.”
Here is Steph Curry on the Dennis Schröder trade pic.twitter.com/ybyDlxU26J
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 16, 2024
(Photo of Andrew Wiggins attempting to block a shot by Luka Dončić on Sunday: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
