Wiseman from the weak side 🛑✋ pic.twitter.com/FbFWO1VCVU
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 25, 2020
Ahhh, Christmas. A day when families gather together to celebrate the birth of a man who promised to usher in prosperity and success.
That man, of course, is James Wiseman.
The Warriors fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 138-99 on Christmas Day, but that was expected when the young Warriors suited up against the juggernaut of the East.
The real story was Wiseman, who continues to impress, and looks every bit the player the Warriors hope he will become when they drafted him second overall.
It's gorgeous ðŸ˜. James Wiseman's first half stats:
• 14 points (4/5 from the field)
• 2/2 from deep
• 4 rebounds
• 2 blocks pic.twitter.com/wCh3YsJWAb— KNBR (@KNBR) December 25, 2020
The 19-year-old (!!!) was all over the floor in the first half, blocking shots, slicing through the lane, knocking down deep balls. At times he looked like the most poised and veteran player wearing a white jersey at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Great for the rookie, bad for the Warriors winning a basketball game.
Stephen Curry’s Christmas Day struggles continued, as Mr. Unanimous ended up with only 19 points on the afternoon. Curry didn’t hit a shot from the field until there was a minute left in the first quarter.
Golden State kept the game close in the first half and went into the locker room down only 10 points thanks to stingy defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo and second half points off a handful of Milwaukee turnovers.
The downfall for the Dubs – and the main question mark overshadowing this young team – was the jump shooting.
The Warriors finished the game 10-45 from beyond the arc, compared to 20-37 from Milwaukee. Oubre Jr. struggled for a second straight game, going 1-10 from the field for three points. Wiggins finished with 12 points on 18 shots.
The two combined for 0-9 from deep.
The game may have been close at half, but it did not stay that way for long. Milwaukee used all those Warriors misses to get out and run, leading to fast break buckets and open long balls.
By the time the final whistle sounded the Warriors were down 39, and it felt like it.
Tough product to watch on national television for Warriors fans, but the signs of life are there. Steve Kerr said during an in-game interview he believes his team will get better. The defense will improve, and the offense will come to life.
Can he make that magic happen before this squad digs a hole in the stacked Western Conference too big to climb out of?
Helps when you have a 7-footer who can jump out of the gym.
