The Golden State Warriors got blown out for the third consecutive game, falling 126-110 to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Dyson Daniels had a game-high 28 points, and CJ McCollum added 23.
De’Anthony Melton paced the Warriors (33-38) with 20 points.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game.
Kuminga Landed in Great Place
In his first game against his former team, Jonathan Kuminga had just two points on 1-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and one steal in 22 minutes.
But even with his struggles and the Hawks playing without star forward Jalen Johnson, they still dominated, at one point leading by 28 before the Warriors made a garbage-time push.
The Hawks have now won 12 of 13, and Kuminga has played in just seven of those games. He’s fit in well, scoring 16-plus in four of them, but that’s not my big takeaway from the beginning of his Hawks tenure. Instead, it’s how Atlanta is a great landing spot for him.
The Hawks are long and athletic. Kuminga is not being asked to be the athletic aspect of his new team like he often was with the Warriors. He’s simply fitting in for a team that loves to get out in transition and has several players who can attack the basket.
Essentially, the Hawks have more offensive talent than the Warriors, and that’s opening up paint-scoring opportunities for everyone. It wasn’t Kuminga’s day Saturday, but many of the baskets Dyson Daniels scored came on plays Kuminga excels at. Next game, it could easily be Kuminga scoring 28 points, as defenses have to pick their poison.
Quin Snyder is a good coach and general manager Onsi Saleh has built a promising present and future. The Hawks should be in the playoffs this season, and they don’t seem far from seriously vying for a conference championship.
Kuminga will get a chance to prove himself on a big stage with a team that fits his playing style. What more could you ask for?
Kerr’s Candid Take on Podz’s Ceiling Feels Accurate
Steve Kerr had a fascinating answer regarding the trajectory of Brandin Podziemski, who struggled Saturday with five points and three turnovers.
Kerr first acknowledged that Podz has proved in his three seasons that he can drive winning before going into some of his limitations that have been exposed in Stephen Curry’s 20-game absence.