The Golden State Warriors are aiming to turn their season around. They have now won three straight games against the Mavericks, Nets, and Wizards after struggling to win consecutive games for over two months following injuries to Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry.
Despite various rotations and starting lineups, Brandin Podziemski has been a constant presence throughout the season. He is one of 18 players to have played 74 or more games this season.
Podziemski’s Scoring Surge
Podziemski has been performing well during the Warriors’ three-game winning streak. He has scored 20 or more points in all three games, providing valuable production.
The third-year guard has experienced an up-and-down season, partly due to off-court discussions sparked by confident statements. However, he has been largely excellent in the past several games.
Following the win over the Wizards, Podziemski spoke about his recent high-quality play.
“I’ve been getting to the line quite a bit. I think it’s helped. Just taking good shots within the flow of the game and getting to the foul line. (The key to getting there) is really understanding the rules. I learned a lot from Jimmy (Butler) early in the season and just watching other players play. I think it’s constant aggression, in terms of going to the basket. The more drives you do a game, the more likely you’re going to get fouled. Just always being aggressive going to the rim.”
Free Throw Success
In this three-game stretch, Podziemski at the free-throw line was 2-2 against the Mavericks, 8-8 against the Nets, and 7-8 against the Nets. This is well above his season averages of under 3 free-throw attempts per game and around 77% from the line.
Increased Role Amid Curry’s Absence
Steph Curry’s extended absence due to a lingering knee injury has impacted the team’s overall success. However, Podziemski has embraced the extra minutes and increased responsibilities.
In the past 24 games that Curry has missed since the end of January, Podziemski is averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. He scored in double figures 19 times and surpassed the 20-point mark 7 times in those 24 games.
Alongside Gui Santos, who also played all 24 of those games and is averaging 15.9 points per game in that stretch, the pair is inspiring confidence for what could be a sneak peek of part of the Warriors’ future after Curry and the other veterans retire.