Instant Warriors analysis: What happened when Golden State went big against Blazers

SAN FRANCISCO With one deft change to the starting lineup Warriors coach Steve Kerr demonstrated the biggest difference between this season s roster and this year s iteration Out went the returning -foot- -pound Brandin Podziemski and in went the - lb newcomer Al Horford The new lineup saw Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler moved to guard and wing respectively and Draymond Green shifted to his more natural power forward position and away from guarding - giant Donovan Clingan There was plenty to analyze in Golden State s - conquest over the Blazers at Chase Center on Wednesday night Butler scored while Curry put in and Buddy Hield scored Moses Moody scored Quinten Post put up points and LJ Cryer had while leading a thrilling fourth quarter comeback alongside Pat Spencer Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry dribbles against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason battle at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group On the first possession Green revealed his chemistry with his new frontcourt partner lasering a pass to Horford for a layup albeit one not converted However over the first the lineup produced mixed results as it fell behind - and forced Kerr to call a timeout The interior defense was sensational in allowing just four points in the paint But with a slower frontcourt the Blazers peppered Golden State from behind the arc starting of on wide-open looks Green was surprisingly effective as a shooter nailing a couple of open triples and though Horford began of he did make a nifty pass to Butler while leading the fastbreak That was all the spectators at Chase Center got to see of the starting unit with that combination not playing together again in the first half To start the second Curry Butler Green and Horford were not on the bench Same amount of minutes for starters After playing around minutes each in Sunday s preseason opener the Golden State vets Horford Curry Butler and Green were expected to play more minutes We usually ramp them up a little bit each event Kerr revealed after a latest practice I imagine it will be a little bit more than the other night In reality the ramp-up was minimal Butler played minutes while Green and Curry each played apiece Horford truly saw a decrease in playing time seeing the floor for just minutes while going of Moody and Post were the only Warriors players to crack minutes Podziemski point guard Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Blake Wesley in the second quarter of an NBA preseason encounter at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Kerr put starting shooting guard Podziemski in the role of floor general in the first quarter The results were not pretty Portland ended the first quarter on a - run with Golden State struggling to generate open looks with only one natural ballhandler on the floor Butler returned to start the second quarter and took over de facto point guard duties It also saw Jonathan Kuminga spend time with Horford and Butler which produced five quick points to begin the second quarter Podziemski finished the encounter with five points and three assists and appeared much more effective when playing off either Butler or Curry Kuminga who had two assists once again played the part of a willing passer against the Blazers He repeatedly made the extra pass including a couple of dishes to Curry that did not show up in the stat sheet The Warriors will play their first road encounter of the season at the Lakers on Sunday Other notables Oakland native Damian Lillard did not make the trip back to the Bay Area He tore his Achilles in the first round of the playoffs for Milwaukee and is still rehabbing in Portland After using players in the opener Kerr slightly cut the rotation down on Wednesday He played with Marques Bolden not entering Seth Curry was healthy but did not play Because he entered training camp a scant days later than the rest of the company Kerr explained he is ramping up his activity Summer League sensation Hansen Yang was unable to recreate the magical passing and interior scoring he flashed against the Warriors in Las Vegas He fouled out and only had four points and one assist while looking a tad bit frazzled against real NBA competition Golden State Valkyries center Iliana Rupert s younger brother Rayan suited up for Portland Portland Trail Blazers' Yang Hansen looks to pass against the Golden State Warriors' Quinten Post in the second quarter of an NBA preseason match at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan in the second quarter of an NBA preseason challenge at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Jimmy Butler III lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday in the second quarter of an NBA preseason battle at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry look on in the second quarter of an NBA preseason event against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Al Horford dribbles as he looks to pass against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason match at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Moses Moody drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Blake Wesley in the second quarter of an NBA preseason match at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija as Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski and Golden State Warriors' Al Horford move over in the second quarter of an NBA preseason event at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Portland Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday gains a rebound against the Golden State Warriors' Gary Payton II in the second quarter of an NBA preseason tournament at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry lays up a three point basket and draws a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason competition at Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday Oct Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group