Warriors instant analysis: Steph Curry’s big night not enough to lift team past towering Blazers

SAN FRANCISCO Steph Curry feinted right he juked left he spun one way and then pivoted another No matter what move or series of moves he made Portland had no answer for the all-time great superstar on Friday night at Chase Center In the end though Curry s magnificent night was not enough to stop the Warriors from dropping their third contest in a row and second contest this year to the Blazers this time - The Warriors dropped back to with a - record It was Golden State s first home loss of the season Curry poured in points in the first half en track to points making of -pointers and torching a Blazers defense that tried to guard the cat-quick -foot- ballhandler with a series of taller forwards The encounter came down to the wire Jimmy Butler made two free throws late to cut the Blazers lead to - with around seconds remaining Then Caleb Love banged in a three which was answered by a Curry triple Deni Avdija hit two free throws to extend the advantage to four for Portland Curry missed two -pointers as Golden State s comeback fell short The Warriors played their first competition since returning from a grueling six-game road trip that saw them go - Facing them was a Blazers squad missing preponderance of its guards Coaching Portland was Tiago Splitter the acting head coach as Chauncey Billups is in the present embroiled in a gambling outrage and on leave It was the Warriors third Emirates In-Season Tournament event with Golden State having lost the first battle in Denver - and beaten San Antonio - Brandin Podziemski scored and Moses Moody popped in Draymond Green scored and dished out eight assists while Butler poured in Avdija played point guard for Portland and scored and contributed assists The Blazers led - after one quarter with Donovan Clingan and Portland s bigs controlling the interior Then Curry dropped in the second quarter to help Golden State take a - lead into halftime The Blazer stayed in it throughout taking a lead early in the fourth quarter and keeping the Warriors at bay for the rest of the night The Warriors will enjoy two nights off before playing host to Utah on Monday as they continue a five-game homestand Perimeter defense an issue The Warriors with the notable exception of Moody Gary Payton II and perhaps rookie Will Richard lack consistent perimeter defenders It was a flaw that Avdija and the Blazers exposed time and time again especially in the second half Whether it be Sidy Cissoko Love or even Toumani Camara the Golden State defense seemed incapable of getting a stop This exhibited up on the statsheet as the Blazers poured in points in the paint Even when the Warriors cut off the initial drive that just left Clingan Robert Williams or any of Portland s other tall rangy and athletic centers open under the rim The Blazers dominated Golden State on the offensive glass too grabbing offensive boards and putting in second-chance points Podziemski pops Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski reacts after making a -point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball match against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday Nov in San Francisco AP Photo Godofredo A V squez Steve Kerr loves to call Podziemski a connector a guy who will play off the stars and make an impact in the quiet parts of the event not measured by statistics A solid screen The extra pass A rotation that makes a shot a little more demanding The loudest aspect of basketball putting the ball in the hoop is not usually his forte See the -year-old s struggles in Miami when he scored but shot just of in a more featured offensive role But against Portland he flashed the kind of shot-making that the Warriors desperately need outside of Curry and Butler He snaked into the lane for foul shots and layups and even made a inadequate jumpers while making of shots and getting to the free throw line times All while still doing the little things the coaching staff loves And maybe Podziemski is a better scorer than given credit for He has now scored in double figures in four of his last five games DeMarco on the bench Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco sat between Steph Curry and fellow assistant Jerry Stackhouse on the Warriors bench On almost any other day that would not be notable in the slightest However on Friday morning the -year stalwart was stated to have agreed to become the New York Liberty s coach in the WNBA It is yet to be determined when he will depart the Bay Area and Kerr declined to comment on the matter as the Liberty have not made it official yet Related Articles Five decades later the championship Warriors are a squad still worth remembering Longtime Warriors assistant DeMarco to lead WNBA s New York Liberty Kurtenbach The Warriors survived the hard part of their schedule Now it s time for a run Short-handed Warriors battle without Curry Butler and Green but Miami surges late for - win Curry out other stars questionable at Heat as Warriors tough schedule marches on Blazers backcourt decimated The visitors rolled out a starting lineup with four forwards and -foot- Clingan That was not a tactical decision made just because Splitter wished to be avant garde Aside from long-term injuries to Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson Shaedon Sharpe Blake Wesley and Jrue Holiday were all ruled out with various leg injuries Warriors honored Former Warriors and members of the NBA championship unit George Johnson Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes left to right field questions at Chase Center on Nov Joseph Dycus Bay Area News Group The Warriors first championship group was honored between the first and second quarters The seven living members remaining from that squad which included a still-gregarious Rick Barry gathered at midcourt Charles Dudley a reserve guard on that -deep association is leading the effort to create a documentary about the forgotten champions For more on this association and endeavor read about it here