What we learned as the Podz-led Warriors cruised to a hard-fought win over the Bulls originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors needed to show resilience if they wanted to maintain their perfect summer league record (5-0) and that’s exactly what Golden State did in pulling out a 92-82 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at The Thomas & Mack . Center.
One night after Warriors defeated the Phoenix Suns From start to finish, the Bulls made Golden State work early in a way they weren’t accustomed to, entering Sunday’s game undefeated in summer league play.
The Warriors were able to turn things around early with a crucial 11-1 run in the first quarter, retaking the lead in the blink of an eye after it looked like the Bulls were about to pull away.
Golden State started the second half strong with quick scoring fueled by Brandin Podziemski, Daeqwon Plowden and Trayce Jackson-Davis, building a double-digit lead that the Warriors carried to the finish line of yet another convincing summer league win.
Here are three takeaways from Golden State’s win over Chicago:
Podziemski takes care of business
One of the main goals of Podziemski’s participation in the 2024 NBA Summer League was to give the second-year guard the opportunity to build confidence as the No. 1 option on the court, which is exactly how he looked on Sunday.
Podziemski was arguably the best player on the court, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, doing a little bit of everything while showing off the edge that earned him 2023-24 All-Rookie First-Team honors last season.
When Golden State struggled to get into a rhythm early, Podziemski generated his own offense with a series of 3-pointers, including a crafty step-back from beyond the arc.
The 21-year-old scored at all three levels, including a stunning reverse layup to end the first half strong after the Bulls made the Warriors fight through the first two quarters.
Podziemski also shined as a playmaker, delivering a stunning no-look pass to Jackson-Davis for an open slam.
Given Steph Curry’s penchant for playing without the ball and Chris Paul’s departure, Podziemski rise as primary ball handler in Golden State’s offense will be critical to the Warriors’ success in the future. If it’s anything like Sunday, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Get in where you fit
Warriors Summer League coach Anthony Vereen confidently proclaimed Plowden belongs to the NBA due to his ability to execute efficiently within structure – a critical skill for a role-playing player – and the 25-year-old further strengthened his case with another strong showing on Sunday.
Podziesmki stole the show on Sunday, and that’s perfectly fine with Plowden — who prides himself on his ability to thrive within the natural flow of Golden State’s offense.
One night after recording a team-high 19 points on 75 percent shooting, Plowden saw his scoring total drop to 14, but his impact was still felt throughout. The 25-year-old wing continued to be remarkably efficient from the 3-point line, draining 2 of 4 attempts from beyond the arc.
Plowden continues to maximize his positive athleticism, getting to the rack with authority on a tough and-1 shot and showing off his jumps on a transition shot following a lob from Podziemski.
Ending on a high note
In what is expected to be Jackson-Davis’ final game of the 2024 NBA Summer League, the Warriors’ young center posted a double-double on his way out the door.
Jackson Davis finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, adding a block and two steals in 30 minutes of action. The 24-year-old was 4 of 7 from the field and was 9 of 13 from the free throw line, finishing with 12 more on the night.
With Jackson-Davis likely to take on a substantial role with the Warriors during the 2024 NBA season, his strong summer league performance indicates that the talented center can pick up right where he left off after ending his rookie season on a high, and provide Golden State with the vertical spacing it will need to be a serious contender in the Western Conference.
