National Basketball Association

3 Takeaways from the Warriors' first win of the season

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Draymond Green (23) defend New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors got their first win of the season against the Pelicans. Here are three takeaways.

The Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans for their first win of the much-anticipated and hyped up season by a score of 122-114. The Warriors’ three main scorers had big games with Kevin Durant leading the way with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists, Klay Thompson going for 28 points, four assists, and two rebounds, and Stephen Curry with 23 points and seven assists.

The Warriors would lead by nine at halftime and for much of the contest until the Pelicans made a run and had a brief one-point lead near the end of the third quarter. They still had trouble holding and maintaining the lead, but they’re still trying to incorporate Durant, Zaza Pachulia, and other new additions to the team. This will take time, but the Warriors will get it down and when they do, they’re going to be the scariest team in the league.

It was a game that the Warriors started off slow and picked it up in the second quarter and led 59-50 at halftime. After halftime, the Warriors started slow again and did not have much energy with their nine-point lead decreasing. Soon after that, their pace and energy picked up with Curry and Kevon Looney getting a lot of run in with the starters. Looney helped out on the glass and scored a couple of buckets as well.

The Warriors still have work to do as they face a Phoenix Suns team that only lost to the Thunder by three in overtime. The defense has been shaky at times and still needs some refining, but hopefully after these next few games, they’ll be able to get better in that department.

Here are three takeaways from their first win of the season over the Pelicans.

September 28, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (36) poses for a photo during media day at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kevon Looney should play more.

After missing all of last year with injuries and having hip surgery, Kevon Looney is still trying to find his way in the NBA. However, on Friday night, Looney gave head coach Steve Kerr some great minutes battling on the glass with Anthony Davis and the other New Orleans Pelicans’ big men. I know it’s just one game, but Looney gave Kerr something to think about for Sunday’s game in Phoenix.

Looney gives Kerr another rebounder (a fantastic offensive rebounder I might add), and a guy who’s not afraid to take it to the basket and finish as he did on a pick-and-roll he had with Steph Curry. He also gives the Warriors more length on the defensive end at contesting and changing shots.

He did a little bit of everything tonight for the Warriors in the minutes he played. He set solid screens and attacked the basket with an impressive fearlessness. He had a couple of assists, including a nice “broken-play” dime to Andre Iguodala at the end of the third quarter to push the lead to 11 heading into the fourth.

Looney played 7 minutes and was +13. Looney grabbed 3 rebounds and scored 4 points. Don’t be surprised if Kerr puts Looney in more with the starters this upcoming Sunday.

Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (33) and guard Lance Stephenson (5) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kevin Durant is the free-throw shooting savior.

For several years, the Warriors had a tough time in getting to the free-throw line, especially late in games. That has all changed with the acquisition of Kevin Durant this offseason.

A 6’12” scoring machine, who can get his shot over almost any guy in the league has been one of the top free-throw shooters in the league for years. I don’t mean by percentage (although, he’s got a high free-throw percentage as well), I mean by getting to the free-throw line by drawing fouls and creating contact to get there.

The Warriors were hurt a lot by this last year as neither Curry or Thompson got to the line nearly as much as they should have. With Durant on board, that whole narrative changes, as he shot a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line tonight against the Pelicans.

In crunch time of close games, the Warriors can go to Durant to get fouled and go to the line and hit his free-throws to stop the clock and possibly stop momentum from the other team.

One of the Warriors’ weaknesses just turned into one of their biggest strengths because of the signing of one guy. Hopefully, the other players such as Curry and Thompson can learn from Durant at drawing fouls and get to the line more often, especially in the fourth quarter.

Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Defense and Rebounding still need to improve

The Warriors were much better defensively tonight, in terms of getting into the passing lanes and defensive rotations and switches. However, there still needs to be work done. The reason being the Pelicans got back in the game was because of the rebounding and some defensive lapses the Warriors had.

For example, one play in the second half that stood out to me as a defensive mistake was when the Pelicans point guard, Tim Frazier got penetration into the middle of the defense and he got all the way to the rim because there was no communication and help for Curry to get to Frazier.

The Warriors allowed 114 to a struggling Pelicans and I know it’s early in the season, but that’s not the kind of defense you want to play if you want to hoist that trophy in June.

There was still some miscommunication on switches and easy layups given up that could be cleaned up over the next couple of games. This is when the Warriors desperately need a rim protector. And they might have one in Javale McGee, but Kerr does not play him for some strange reason.

The length and size of some teams like the Jazz and the Cavs will give the Warriors some fits going forward, but it’s early. Hopefully, assistant coach Ron Adams has some thought-out defensive schemes to make up for the Warriors’ size and lack of an intimidating shot blocker.