Shai Gets Career High + Warriors Out Duel Nuggets

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Shai Gets Career High + Warriors Out Duel Nuggets
Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni
Guest: Marcus Thompson (Warriors/NBA analyst)

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Episode Overview

This episode recaps a wild NBA night marked by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career-high 55 points in a double-overtime thriller between the Thunder and Pacers, and a classic duel between the Warriors and Nuggets, featuring Steph Curry’s dazzling 42-point performance. The hosts also touch on the shockwave news of NBA figures Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier being under federal investigation for gambling.

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Key Segments & Discussions

1. NBA Gambling Scandal Reaction

Timestamps: 02:13–04:51

• Esfandiar opens by sharing the surreal experience of waking up to “47 text messages” about Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier facing federal indictment for gambling.
  • "I wasn't feeling well and I woke up to a bunch of text messages...That is not hyperbole, it was 47 and I didn't know what it was." – Esfandiar (02:13)
• Hosts joke about the bizarre details—X-ray poker tables and tech-laden scams.
• Light banter about what NBA player could rope someone into a scam poker game, agreeing Chauncey's status wouldn’t lure serious players but someone like Jokic (if “horse racing” was involved) might.
  • "Chauncey Billups had a great career. He's a Hall of Famer. That's not getting me into some high stakes poker game." – Esfandiar (03:36)

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2. Oklahoma City Thunder-Pacers Double Overtime Epic

Timestamps: 04:54–14:17

Game Context & Standout Players

• Thunder win 141–135 in double OT; have now played four overtimes in their first two games.
• Pacers missing key ball-handlers Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard (injury), TJ McConnell.
• Pascal Siakam shines—32 points, 3-pt shooting enables spacing.
  • "This is an awesome year for Pascal to show what he can be as a half court player." – Esfandiar (06:33)
• Benedict Mathurin: 36 points on 17 FT attempts, strong candidate for breakout/Most Improved.
  • "If he's playing like this, that's a most improved player type of candidate." – Dave (07:14)

Thunder Depth & Development

• AJ Mitchell: Emerging as Sixth Man of the Year candidate, 26 off the bench.
  • "AJ Mitchell, like in two games, he looks like he's going to be 6 man of the year. Puts up 26 off the bench." – Esfandiar (07:55)
• Ball-handling by committee as Jaylen Williams (J-Dub) sits; Mitchell credited with “Jalen Brunson” style, savvy in pick-and-roll.
• Aaron Wiggins tallies 23 as a starter; Chet Holmgren solid in early returns; Mark Daigneault’s experimental rotations praised.
• Brooks Barnheiser, rookie, praised for physicality.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Historic Night

Timestamps: 10:33–12:03

• Shai posts career-high 55 (23/26 FT), the NBA's early high-water mark.
  • "Shay with 55. This is the most points so far this season. 23 career high. 23 of 26 from the free throw line." – Esfandiar (10:35)
• Hosts note his poise, patience, and continued dominance despite absent three-point shot.
• Workload concern: Should Thunder gun for 70 wins or pace Shai for playoff health?
  • "That's what really is going to help you win a championship this year. I don't think it's like, hey, let's win 70 games again. I think it's let's try to win 60." – Dave (11:54)
• Depth, experimentation, and surprising stamina emphasized after early OT marathons.

Pacers Upside with Pascal Siakam

• Indiana’s ability to remain competitive without traditional point guards and create versatility around Siakam is praised.
• Obi Toppin’s energy and depth key to team's high floor.
• "I think they can be a top six team in the East...They've got the guys." – Esfandiar (13:19)

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3. Warriors’ Overtime Win vs. Nuggets – Marcus Thompson Joins

Timestamps: 17:30–34:54

Steph Curry’s 42-Point Masterpiece

• Marcus Thompson lauds Curry’s “ageless marvel,” still looking “like he’s 28” at 37.
  • "You just forget that he's 37...Steph looks 28. The way he's moving, how, like, the energy he has, like, it's kind of a marvel." – Marcus Thompson (18:40)
• Second half and OT described as “ridiculous,” Curry repeatedly beating traps, getting to the rim, finishing through contact.
• Offseason rest/fresh prep blamed for extra bounce and fitness.
  • "He looks fresher. He looks like a rejuvenated player." – Marcus (20:34)

Warriors’ Big Lineup Tricks

• Hosts discuss “fake size” lineups with Horford and Draymond, plus Kaminga and their effectiveness against Denver’s size.
• Defensive slippage noted—“Denver’s offensive numbers are insane”—but Warriors survive via scoring.
  • “They're not going to go get a big just for the sake of having a big...They can survive. And they did enough with Denver, which is massive.” – Marcus (22:48)

Jonathan Kuminga’s Evolving Role

• Kaminga’s expanded responsibilities (due to injuries/rest for veterans) seen as a necessity and unexpectedly positive.
  • "They've essentially decided, like, you're going to play. And he seems to have responded...like, okay, I'm going to do the things you're asking me to do." – Marcus (24:16)
• Improved interior passing, rebounding, defensive assignment highlighted.
• On his aggression:
  • "He's like, you give me a blink, I'm going through it. And Steph needs that. They need to punish teams...Kaminga is the guy to do it." – Marcus (27:00)

Nuggets’ Depth and Growth

• Co-hosts and Marcus agree Denver is the title favorite. Aaron Gordon’s offensive jump (10-11 3pt, 50 points) seen as transformative.
  • "He produces like a star, he threatens like a star. It opens up the game for Jamal Murray...They just have places to go." – Marcus (30:11)
• New additions (e.g., Cam Johnson) make non-Jokic minutes less vulnerable.
• Team has greater flexibility and less desperation in non-Jokic lineups.

Warriors’ Sustainability Concerns

• Sustainability, health management, and supporting scorer development (Moody, Pods) called essential for Warriors’ postseason hopes.
  • "Can they win the games they should win and get, like, comfortably into a place where they're not battling for a play-in?" – Marcus (32:22)
• Emphasis on Warriors’ “corporate knowledge” and championship savvy, even as they face age questions.

Bench Depth: Will Richard

• Will Richard, 56th pick, has “Moses Moody” skillset and the “moxie” to stick in rotation.
  • "He fits the Warriors in that very—I know how to play basketball...and I have enough skill...the rest is just like, heart, and he's got the heart." – Marcus (33:40)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shai's performance:
  "We're gonna pay attention because I think that they can win 70 and I would like to see them do it...I don't think that's what the Thunder are about. And so far they're not." – Esfandiar (07:55)
• On Pascal Siakam’s versatility:
  "Every year he adds something to his game, every year he adds a new wrinkle. I think this is a perfectly built team for him." – Esfandiar (06:33)
• On Curry’s longevity:
  "Steph looks 28. The way he's moving, how, like, the energy he has, like, he's still... It's kind of a marvel." – Marcus Thompson (18:40)
• On Warriors’ age and playoff hopes:
  "You got the corporate knowledge of how to win, man. And that stuff matters massive, too." – Esfandiar (33:04)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:13 – Reaction to Chauncey Billups/Terry Rozier gambling scandal.
• 04:54–14:17 – Thunder-Pacers double OT breakdown and Shai’s 55.
• 10:33 – Discussion on Shai’s career-high.
• 17:30 – Marcus Thompson joins: Warriors-Nuggets, Curry’s 42.
• 18:40 – Marcus: “Steph looks 28… It’s a marvel.”
• 27:00 – Kaminga’s role and his benefit to Steph and the team.
• 30:11 – Aaron Gordon’s shooting leap and Nuggets’ depth.
• 32:22 – Marcus on Warriors' path and playoff sustainability.

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Tone & Language

• Conversational, basketball-nerd-friendly, lighthearted with moments of sharp analysis.
• Frequent jokes and asides about NBA culture, player personalities, and the oddities of league life.

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Summary

The hosts serve up a vibrant, analysis-rich breakdown of an early-season NBA night to remember. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring explosion cements his superstar status and signals the Thunder’s deep, experiment-happy approach. The Indiana Pacers’ resilience and Pascal Siakam’s fit get credit, while the high stakes of the NBA’s ongoing gambling controversy get both scrutiny and laughs.

In the West, Steph Curry’s enduring brilliance is the headline as the Warriors pull off an overtime win over a deep, evolving Nuggets team led by a breakout Aaron Gordon. With Marcus Thompson’s expert insights, the show weighs Golden State’s age and depth concerns against their experience and corporate know-how. Kaminga’s growth and rookie Will Richard’s emergence are promising subplots, but the season’s big question remains: Can these squads convert their early statement games into sustained playoff success?

Transcript

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Everyone'S switching to Pura. But hurry, this offer is for a limited time only. Go now to pura.com and claim your free set before it's gone. Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily, presented by eBay. I'm Dave DeFore here with Esperaheny. Coming up. Wow, the Oklahoma City Thunder really love basketball. Another double overtime win for the Thunder. We're going to talk about that a little bit. And then Marcus Thompson comes on to talk about Steph Curry and his ridiculous night against the Nuggets. Good morning, everybody.

[E]

Good morning.

[D]

S. Good morning.

[E]

Man.

[C]

A lot of basketball in the first three days of the NBA season.

[D]

A lot of free basketball. You know, shout out to the Oklahoma City Thunder, getting people their money's worth.

[C]

You know what, before we jump into that, today was. It was an inter. Or yesterday was an interesting day. I wasn't feeling well and I woke up to a. A bunch of text messages in a way, like, something happened. Right. Like, I just had like 47 text messages. That is not hyperbole. It was 47 and I didn't know what it was. And then, you know, I check our group chat and we're doing an emergency pod because Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, you know, are under federal investigation or indictment now. Yeah. For this gambling thing. Been quite a day. Yeah, it was quite a day.

[D]

We. I Think everybody on NBA Twitter was watching a FBI press conference for the first time in their lives and live tweeting it, which was really funny to watch. You know, I. I noticed and I found out that Chauncey Billups apparently allegedly had X ray scanners under these poker tables. They were using high tech equipment.

[C]

They had glasses where you could allegedly see marked cards. And it got me thinking. S. Look, this is. It seems like this scam was. Come play. Hey, you're a poker player. Come play poker with a famous guy, an NBA guy. And that guy winds up being Chauncey Billups.

[D]

Yeah, that would be tough.

[C]

Respect. Chauncey Billups had a great career. He's a Hall of Famer.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

That's not getting me into some high stakes poker game. So it got me thinking, who's the worst player that's going to get you scammed in a high stakes poker game? S. Like. Because like, Chauncey go objectively a good player. There's no way. I'm. I'm like, you know what? To hang out with Chauncey Billups. Sure.

[D]

This is not happening, man.

[C]

It would.

[D]

It would have to be. I mean, like, look, Chauncey, again, like you said, hall of famer, Mr. Big Shot. You know, big buckets for the Pistons champion.04. Well, all that stuff. Right. I don't know if he would get me in the door for a poker tournament. I'm not sure if he would.

[C]

I'm lost. Yeah.

[D]

Would you? Maybe, maybe Jokic. If Jokic was telling me that he was going to have a poker tournament and there was some horse racing in the background.

[C]

Rigged horse racing. Is that. Is that something we need to watch out for? Yeah. I don't know. Anyway, it's just. That is, to me, the goofy. One of the goofier parts of the entire thing. Beyond just hearing, like, Gambino and Lucchese and all of these cats and Ostra. Yeah, like, I'm in. Good, fellas. Yeah. Interesting day yesterday. Anyway, I just wanted to kind of.

[E]

Throw that out there.

[C]

I thought it was very funny.

[D]

Very funny.

[C]

Yeah. Not funny, man. The Thunder have now played four overtimes. In their first two games. They beat the Pacers 141, 135. This game just. It was. It felt like game eight of the finals, man. Yeah. There's something about the, the, the Thunder that draws even more heart out of the Pacer somehow. So obviously they know Halliburton. For them, Andrew Nemhart doesn't play the entire second half of the game.

[D]

So, yeah, he's out after the shoulder injury.

[C]

Yeah, you know they have, they have multiple, I think three players foul out for them and I mean somehow they're still in it at the end of the second overtime against the deepest and potentially deepest and most talented team in the league in the, in the Thunder. Ridiculous game.

[D]

Yeah, it was, it was ridiculous. And also worth mentioning no T.J. mcConnell for the Pacers either. So they, they did not have a single true traditional point guard on their team and they got to see for.

[C]

A little bit what's this kids tail And Peter Taylor.

[D]

Peter, we got some Taylor Peter minutes. We got a report on him. Taylor Peter, decent wing, does a little bit of everything. Very Rick Carlisle type of player. But like still a young guy who has to figure out his minutes. I think like him and Ben Shepard will probably split some of those guard duties. Nemhardt is going to miss a little bit of time here. I'm also curious to see like just in general half court wise how this team leans on who's going to be the ball handler if Nemhardt is going to miss time for them. Look, Pascal Siakam is the guy for this team and he was exceptional tonight. 32 points, knocked down 12 shots, three threes which was really, really good. And look, if he's knocking down his threes like that consistently, that opens up the spacing for their half court. It's an awesome year for Pascal to show what he can be as a half court player. Every year he adds something to his game, every year he adds a new wrinkle. I think this is an like a perfectly built team for him to show that as well. So maybe Pascal point guard, man, I.

[C]

Mean he basically has to play everything at this point. Benedict Matherin for the, for the Pacers had a great game.

[D]

Yes.

[C]

17 free throw attempts, scored 36 points. I mean we talked about him as like a breakout guy this year just from the opportunity standpoint, the way he plays, how aggressive he is.

[D]

He's relentless, man. He, he like he barrels his way to the basket and I know sometimes that can be his, his downfall too because he, he, he's too aggressive at times and maybe doesn't see the passing windows that he develops. But you got to give him, like you mentioned Hart earlier, Ben Matheran plays with so much heart and so much conviction and he gets downhill consistently. And look, if he's playing like this, if he's knocking down his threes like he did, if he's getting to the basket, that is a most improved player type of candidate.

[C]

So I mean that's a all star. I mean if he's gonna play like this. And then for the Thunder, I mean, obviously they win the game. They're now two and oh, well on their way. Look, they're on pace 82 and oh, season 82.

[D]

Zero is available.

[C]

We're gonna pay attention because I think that they can win 70 and I would like to see them do it. You know, so often we see teams kind of take their foot off the gas and I don't think that's what the Thunder are about. And so far they're not. I mean, they found another guy and we're, we're going to talk about Shay in a second, but they found another guy. AJ Mitchell, like in two games he looks like he's going to be 6 man of the year. Puts up 26 off the bench in this game. You know, he's playing like in, in overtime.

[F]

Right.

[C]

I mean this guy late second round pick last season just again found money.

[D]

I'll ask you this, Dave. What was the one thing OKC needed last year during their playoff run?

[C]

I mean, they, they could use some shooting.

[D]

They, they could use some shooting. I agree. But I think the one thing I would say is ball handling. And A.J. mitchell addresses that immediately as a second guy who can kind of create his own shot, who can make plays out of pick and rolls. He had a lot of nifty passes today too, that might have not ended in assist, but like the decision making is good. He has a little bit of this is crazy comp. Okay, so prepare to be amazed. But he has a little bit of Jalen Brunson in his game and that I could see that some lefty bias there because they're both left handed guys. They both like to get to their spots similarly.

[C]

But he gets into people's bodies in the same way.

[D]

Totally. Yes. So look, if he continues playing like this, obviously a six man of the year candidate, but they've so desperately needed another ball handler next to Shay. And if he's that for them, that solves a huge problem for them moving forward. I actually think in general, we haven't mentioned this, but no J Dub tonight for OKC either. That's a huge element for the first couple of weeks of this Thunder season. I think it's going to be a blessing in disguise though because AJ Mitchell gets more reps, Aaron Wiggins gets more opportunity. Aaron Wiggins had 23 points tonight as a starter. We saw Chet Holmgren in their first game versus the Rockets. Really explore offensively. I think Some of these, you know, role player types are going to get more opportunity to figure things out, punch above their weight offensively. That'll help them develop. And like we said before, Mark Dagna is not afraid to experiment, not afraid to try things. Brooks Barnheiser, another rookie, played 15 minutes tonight. You know, can I get his shoulder workout, Dave? He is jacked. He is massive.

[C]

Doing a lot of side lateral raises, I'm assuming.

[D]

If you are watching this, Brooks.

[C]

Yeah. Shoot over the shoulder workout routine.

[E]

All right.

[C]

Shake scores. 55.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

We.

[D]

We buried the lead there on the Thunder.

[C]

Yes. Shay with 55. This is the most points so far this season. 23 career high. Yep. 23 of 26 from the free throw line. This is just a continuation of last year. The. The three ball isn't there yet. Right. Only two of seven in this game is one of nine in game one. But everything else is. I mean, this guy, it's just, he has not missed a beat. But from last year to, to this, and if anything, I would even say he looks a little bit more patient even.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, he looks poised. I. I think obviously with no J Dub, there is a lot of. He has to do the heavy lifting on offense, especially in the half court. Have I loved OKC's process in the half court? No, but I think that's why, to the point, I was saying earlier, like, they are kind of experimenting and figuring out who they are without J Dub there. Shea has to do a lot for this team right now. And I'm kind of to your point about them winning 70 games. I wonder if that's worth it, you know, because of the workload. Yeah. Like maybe take it off the gas pedal, you know what I mean? And. And like, pace yourself because that's. That's what really is going to help you win a championship this year. I don't think it's like, hey, let's win 70 games again. I think it's. Let's try to win 60. 60 plus would be great. And let's make sure all our guys are healthy and ready to go for the post.

[C]

But that's not as cool as winning 70.

[E]

I know.

[C]

See, this is the thing. Very concerned about the coolness of winning 70 and not so much, you know, like, let's be smart and win a championship. Chad, 15 points. I mean, listen, the. They just have so many guys. Yeah. Every single night. The depth is huge. Obviously. Four now, four overtimes, and they have not looked tired for one second of this game.

[D]

Like, although Shea had that moment in double overtime, where he's like, damn, I'm tired. I'm exhausted, boss. He did the, he did the Green Mile. I'm tired, Boss. You know, he did that moment. But yeah, look, they're, they're going to find ways to get guys into that rotation and experiment. Like Chris Youngblood played tonight for them. Usman Jang played tonight for them. They are always going to be willing to plug and play guys that, that's been the Oklahoma City way. So I, I don't expect anything different from them. It's, it's good that they've started 20 despite the level of competition that they face. And I think that's a credit to the Pacers. By the way, who, if, if I'm looking at just this one game and what I expected from them heading into the season, some nice development from Jarris Walker and Obi Obi Toppin, who had really good games today too. If they play like this, if the Pacers play like this all season, I think they're a top six team.

[C]

I'm higher on them than a lot of people. And Obi Toppin is a big reason why when you have a guy that plays that, with that level of energy and effort every single night, I mean, he just gives. It raises your floor. I think that they can be a top six team in the East. I just, I think they've got the guys. As long as Nemhardt's not going to. I don't know yet if Nemhard's actually going to be out or not. If he doesn't miss any time. It does seem like they've got enough guards to make it work. They have the high end talent in Pascal Siakam that they can sort of revolve around. Yeah, I think that that's not, that's not even a hot take to me.

[D]

I think the only thing that's holding them back is like how are they going to sort out the center minutes. I wasn't too impressed with what I saw from Isaiah Jackson Huff tonight. They went smaller with the Siakam Toppin lineups, but those, those lineups have been so successful for them that it's like it's sort of an additive. If they find a lineup with a big that works, that's probably the one thing I would say might hold them back. But yeah, yeah, I like them a lot.

[C]

Yep. All right, guys, stick around after the break. Marcus Thompson to talk about Steph Curry's ridiculous night against the Nuggets.

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[C]

Steph Curry was ridiculous last night, putting up 42 points as the warriors get an overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. In the building, our man Marcus Thompson. What's up, Marcus? First appearance of the season. How's it going?

[E]

I mean, that's quite a feat. It's the first week of this first week.

[C]

I know. Yeah, yeah.

[E]

Don't. Don't act like I've been slacking or something. Like, this is my first appearance and you've been going for a while.

[C]

No, no, we talk all the time. You could come on to talk about teams that aren't. The warriors, too. You could have been on here every night. We're blessed.

[E]

I'm here to talk about the Charlotte Hornets, too, but y' all never asked.

[C]

Oh, well, we got you. Next time. Look, next time.

[D]

Are you sure?

[C]

No.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

I thought we were going to wind up talking about Aaron Gordon tonight.

[E]

We can, by the way, we're going to mention.

[C]

Yeah, I mean, he puts up 50. It was 10 of 11 from three, but Steph Curry's second half and overtime, we're just ridiculous. And, you know, I. Every year we're. We're a year older, and we go in thinking, maybe this is the year Steph doesn't have it. I don't know. Steph's got it, man.

[E]

Yeah, I mean, that's. That. That. That's my story in the Athletic, right? Like, this dude, he's insane. Just. You just Forget that he's 37. Yeah. Watching him play, this doesn't look like an old dude who's still doing things. Like, they've got those guys out there, right? Like. Like, Al Horford looks like, still do some things, right? Like, but he's, you know, it's like 43, though. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's like, Al Horford, he looks like he's 39, but he's still doing things. Draymond looks like he's 35, but he's still doing Things. Steph looks 28. Like, the way he's moving how, like, the energy he has, like, he's still. Like, he. It's a. Kind of a marvel. And that's not like, this. The other guys just like, he doesn't. He doesn't look like he's lost anything. It's really interesting tonight. Like, Aaron Gordon was going crazy from three, and oddly enough, this is just like, this is how old we are. The warriors got back in the game by going inside. Like, they. They Essentially, were getting cooked from three, so they just really doubled down on two. And it's a lot of stuff driving on Chris Brown and turning a corner on, like, AG and Yokich traps. And the fact that he can still get around the edge and get into the paint is, like, one of those things where it's like, when he starts slowing down, he won't be able to do that. It's going to be right. I can't get there. I'm a cross back, but he's like, I'm turning the corner. I am getting there. And that's where it's like, yeah, this dude. This is insane.

[D]

Even.

[C]

Even some of those layups where Christian Brown is kind of draped all over him, right? Like, you know, he had that one really tough one that he. To punch in there. I mean, that stuff that last season, I feel like he was, you know, he was blowing a lot of those layups last year through contact, and I feel like it was a good sign for me to see him being that aggressive and physical, like, attacking the battle. He also looks ripped, by the way.

[E]

Yeah, that's the thing. Like, I think the big thing, like, especially at this point in the season, is he had an off season, right? There was no Paris. There was. You know, there was. I guess we can't call it early, like, second round, but it. Yeah, he was earlier than the rest.

[C]

Of his team, right?

[E]

Like, he left after game one. So, like, he. He. He got a space to kind of prepare and build his body, and he looks fresher. You know, he looks like a rejuvenated player. So I mean, the question for the warriors this season, obviously, their. Their peak is pretty high. Like, I think Denver. I picked Denver to win a championship, right? Like, Denver is loaded. Like, they're just. That is an elite NBA team. So the warriors can't compete with that. They can even beat those teams. It's going to be about sustainability and how long they can maintain it. And can they get to April and May and be deep into June and still have this level of vigor? Steph looks like he's prepared for that, but it is game two, so we still gotta wait and see.

[D]

I thought it was interesting to contrast this win versus the Lakers one, because obviously the Lakers don't have the size or athleticism that the Nuggets do. And so, like, the. The double big lineup, if you want to call it that, with Horford and Draymond, which they did not want to.

[E]

Do, by the way, but they went to it.

[D]

They went to it, and it Worked. And. And they even added Jonathan Kaminga to that lineup, too. So I feel like they found a successful formula to, like, fake size, you know, pretend being big versus actually being big and maybe matching up with teams that way.

[E]

Yeah, it's. It's tricky because it really didn't work.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

If you. If you, like, if you just look at it, I mean, Denver's offensive numbers are insane. Like, obviously, it is gassed by Aaron Gordon getting a 50 burger in the bay. Right?

[C]

The threes, man.

[E]

Yeah. But they. I mean, they. They had what they wanted in the lane. You. You can tell the warriors don't, Don't. Aren't prepared for that double big. There's a lot of blown assignments, a lot of passing off that didn't work. And, you know, they're getting open looks, so you can tell it's a little bit rusty. I feel like, though, if you can just hold on. They feel like against a team like Denver, I mean, this is the worst way.

[C]

Right.

[E]

They're not going to go get a big just for the sake of having a big. They're just not doing it. Every offseason is like, go get a big. Like, the days of them, like, looking for Dwayne Deadman, like, they're done with that. Like Al Horford is. They're big. Like, that's what they're going to do. If Quit post ever can guard anybody, like, don't throw him in there. But they just feel like they can survive. And they. They did enough with Denver, which is massive.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

But because they were able to score on the other end, I feel like it's not that they got to shut teams down. They're big. They just have to be able to withhold well enough so they can go back at them. And when you got Steph playing like this, you're probably. It's a safer bet. I. I just don't know how they can do this for, like, a series.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

What do you do for a series? Right. Having to deal with that.

[D]

Well, especially if you get matched up against, like. I mean, they played Houston, they beat Houston, but that's another big team, Right?

[E]

Absolutely.

[C]

Key to this whole thing. To me, it winds up being Kuminga. Right. I mean, we even saw Kaminga guarding Jokic and holding up, you know, a little bit there. You know, Draymond came over to help, but Kaminga being able to close with. With Draymond and Jimmy Butler, to me, has been Horford.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Right.

[C]

It's kind of been a surprise. Right. Like, what do you think about Kaminga.

[E]

So I think he better had. We spent four months talking about this dude. Like, I'm saying, like, it's actually. It's actually been surprisingly good.

[C]

Yeah, it's been good.

[E]

They've. They've had. They essentially had to decide, right? Like, hey, man, we're gonna play you. Right? I mean, they just have to. They simply don't have another choice. Not just because Moses Moody is out, but you just can't run Jimmy into the ground. Right? You just got to be smart about how much you play, Draymond. Like, you just. They just have to. And we haven't gotten to the part of the season yet it's coming where these guys are going to take games off.

[C]

Right? Right.

[E]

There's going to be, like, no Jimmy, no Draymond. And those are all. That's Kaminga's Runway. So they've essentially decided, like, you're going to play. And he seems to have responded with that, like, okay, I'm going to do the things you're asking me to do. Like, I'm going to not be so thirsty on offense that I forget about the other things, or I won't let not scoring deter me. Like, he's in there rebounding. The. The part of his game that's grown very clearly is the interior passing. Like, he's getting into the lane and he's finding that, like, that's not what Kamika does. And defensively, being on the ball as, like, the pit bull is just better for him. There was a moment tonight where you could see why, how they get frustrated with him. Like, Aaron Gordon is 5 for 5 and he goes under the screen, right? It's okay. Aragorn is now 6 for 6. He's still, like, he makes those type of mistakes, but putting him on the ball, like gold pressure the ball, it make. It lessens the opportunity for those things. So it feels like they found a little happy marriage. How to marry. Like, Kaminga's bent on being, like, an all star, like, dominant scorer, and Steve Kerr want him to play warriors basketball. If they can keep this up, that's a big win for the Warriors.

[C]

They need that athleticism, right? Like, I mean, yes. Like, they got it because it's one of the ways that they're going to get some easy buckets. Is Kaminga transition, I think. I mean, I. You know, he's kind of a beast when he can get out in the break.

[D]

We. We've talked about it before, but, like, just rim pressure is such an important part of this game for the warriors. And like, between Jimmy and Kaminga, they have two guys who can get to the rim, but Kaminga just being spry, right? Like a younger dude who can, again, run in transition, but also in the half court, get downhill against the Lakers. And tonight I thought he did a good job. Like, the gravity is coming towards me while I'm driving, I'm dishing it out. We can reset, we can find something better. And so that unselfishness was a big part of what I think Kaminga needed to adapt. It's like buying into the warrior system of what they want to do. And also, like, role definition. He's a starter now, you know, and. And he knows that.

[C]

He's. I'm just.

[D]

Is he okay? Well, let me ask you that. If Moody comes back, are they going to change that starting lineup?

[E]

I don't know, but if Moody was healthy, Moody would be starting. Because Moody was in that. Moody was in that lineup that went 23 7. Like, so they've been kind of reluctant to go away from that. And. And because Moody's out. Exactly. But so now it might be a bit of a tough decision because Kaminga does give you something that they just don't have. And here's the key to it. Like, if we're talking to Steph Curry about this, like, in la, like, Steph needs it the way they're gonna play him. And this is why games like this matter. Like, you go off for this and now everybody's gonna be terrified they're gonna over. Like, and somebody has to exploit that space. Like, they just have to. And who else on this roster other than Kaminga, like, even pods who can get a little shifty, he's not just gonna say, oh, there's a crack, I'm hitting it. Like, they don't really have those guys. Kaminga is thirsty for it. Like, he's like, you give me a blink. Like, I'm going through it. And Steph needs that. He. They need to punish teams that say, we're taking Steph away. If he goes, you know, five or six shots in a half, it needs to be. The other team is getting diced up. Right. And, yeah, Kaming is the guy to do it. That's the answer.

[C]

Can we swing into the Nuggets for a second?

[E]

Absolutely.

[C]

Get your opinion, because you said, like me, that you really high on him. I also think that they're going to go to the finals and probably win the title. Yeah, Yeah. I mean, they look great. Whatever Aaron Gordon did over the summer with his jumper, it worked. I mean, he had an amazing night.

[D]

43% last year, too. This is like crazy shooting development for him all year.

[C]

Yeah, he puts up 50. Jamal Murray looked great. Put up 25, 10 assists. And then Jokic has a 21 point triple double, and then they lose. But the idea was this is this. This is the year they had more depth. What is. What is your takeaway from game one of the Nuggets?

[E]

Yeah, they definitely have a better plan, right? And they've just got the bodies to do it. Like, Cam Johnson wasn't, like, great tonight, but he's another player out there you gotta guard. And before it was like, Peyton Watson, right? And it's like you just feel a little bit better about leaving Peyton than you do Cam Johnson. And I do feel like, like the emergence of Aaron Gordon turning into this. And not. Obviously, he's not like an average 50, but he's such an incredible threat. He shot 45, 46 from three. Now he's at like, what was he, 10 for 11, right?

[C]

He's above 90 from three, right?

[E]

Yeah. So he's getting to that point where you cannot leave him open. And then when you pressure him out there, like, he's such that, like, in between big, like, he's not. He's bigger than most fours and threes who guard him, but he's actually, like, still super athletic. So, like, he's like one on one with Jimmy down low. Like, he's a problem. So he can. He can still do that. To me, that actually makes. Puts everybody at a different place. Like, even Jamal Murray is the third best player on his team, right? Like, you start looking at it like that. Like, hey, like on some game.

[F]

Hey.

[E]

I don't know what happened in here.

[D]

They turned the lights out on the.

[E]

Turn out the lights on me. What's going on, man? I'm already black. They can't be doing that. There you go, messing with Marcus over here. You know what I'm saying? You gotta. Gotta let me live out here. I need my light. But, like, to me, it puts everybody in their place. They're not saying, Christian, like, we need 20 from you. Like, they're putting like, the fact that Gordon has become this very, like, star, productive player. He produces like a star, he threatens like a star. It opens up the game for Jamal Murray. It opens up the game for Tim Hardaway, right? These guys who just. Cam Johnson who will just punish you. And remember. And obviously, Bruce Brown is back. When they won a championship, it was guys like that. It was. It was because mpj, kcp, like, they will punish you. Right. And it's not like hoping that. You know, I keep saying paid Watts, his name, I. I like him as a player, but like hammering him if he's. If he's like the open wing guy, you just feel better about it. Now. You're. You're cooked. Like, they just have places to go. They can put different lineups out there. The non Jokic minutes don't feel so, like, desperate.

[C]

Right. Made a big difference. Yeah, I really, like, they just, like.

[E]

Man, they had options.

[C]

They did a really good job. The Warriors. I mean, it's a big win. This, to me is, you know, this is sort of. This is like a measuring stick win for. For the Warriors. I still have concerns that they're too old, but this is what it's going.

[E]

To look like, actually.

[C]

You know, I mean, like, if they're going to be healthy come playoff time, I don't know, man. I think they could. I don't know.

[E]

It'd be good.

[D]

Can help with the age problem, though. You know, Kaminga can help bring that age concern a little bit down.

[E]

If they do need more from pods, though, they need, like, they're gonna need a lot of these guys. To me, this doesn't say much. I felt like the best of the warriors can win. Right? You got Steph Curry. Like, he's Steph Curry. It's gonna be the sustainability. I mean, we saw it in the Houston series, right?

[C]

Right.

[E]

For four games, they're gonna be good. But they're like. They played game seven in Houston because they tricked off game six.

[C]

Right.

[E]

Which hurt them in game one because Steph played 44 minutes in game seven. Had to turn around playing game one. Pulled his hamstring. Like, it's gonna come down to that type of stuff. Can they. Can they win the games? They should win and get, like, comfortably into a place where they're not battling for a play in. Right. And now they can rest, guys. To me, it's going to be about that. Like the, the even last year, they felt like they. They were a good matchup for okc. They played them well. They were like, we can. We can match up well against them. I, I don't know if they're like, I. You don't pick them over like the OKC or even Denver, but yeah, you don't want to see Steph Curry.

[C]

Well, you got the corporate knowledge of how to win, man.

[E]

And that stuff matters massive, too.

[C]

Matters so much in basketball.

[D]

Marcus, huge final, final warriors question. I got to get this in. Will Richard 56th overall pick. He's been hooping recently.

[C]

What.

[D]

I mean, he's going to be baked into the warriors rotation, or is this just like a moody being hurt type of thing?

[E]

I do think it's a. It's a moody thing, but I do think he's gonna play. Like, first off, can I just say, this dude looks like Jordan Poole with the locks and the number three. He's a little bit bigger, but I'm like, every time I see him, I'll.

[D]

Be like, wait, is that when he hit that three today?

[E]

I kind of got flashed. He thought he was. He thought he was Jordan. You know that. I mean, to me, that three kind of shows why he's gon play. Because he's got a moxie about him. I. I know. I was talking to him after the Lakers series. Like, he was really good in that game. I'm like, dude, like, people wet the bed in la. Like, regular. That's a different stage. Like, you know, Kobe played on that court. You know, like, people do get a little shook on there, like veterans, like, they do. And for him to go out there and just be that comfortable, I was like, hey, hold on. Like, he. He fits the warriors in that very. I know how to play basketball. I'm not typically gonna do more than what I should be doing. Right. And I have enough skill that you can put me in multiple places, and the rest is just like, heart and. And he's got the heart. So he's essentially like a Moses Moody when you really think about it. Like that same type of player. And you know that dude is. Moses Moody is probably a starter in this league. Yeah, not probably. He actually is.

[C]

Yeah, he is a starter. Marcus, I know you got to go talk to Steph, so we're going to.

[E]

Let you get out of here.

[C]

That's going to do it for the show. Thanks to Marcus Thompson for joining us after warriors game.

[E]

Thanks. Go talk to Steph. That was. That was last night. What you mean?

[D]

That's.

[B]

That.

[C]

That's fair point. Thanks to Espera Henny for joining me. As always, I'm Dave Defour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for waking up with us.

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