New coach, same result for the Golden State Warriors.
With Steve Kerr sidelined due to back surgery complications, Luke Walton is the interim head coach for the Warriors. Walton helped the Warriors start their drive for a repeat on the right foot, picking up a 111-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Walton is playing with a stacked decked and it's time to evaluate how he performed in his first game as interim head coach.
Scheme: A
This one was pretty simple for Walton; do what the Warriors did last year. Golden State used their well-oiled offense featuring picks and constant activity to torment the Pelicans' defense. New Orleans had no answer for Stephen Curry, who scored 40 points. The most interesting wrinkle for Golden State was that the offense successfully attacked Anthony Davis on the pick and roll. The Warriors showed no fear of the talented Davis, forcing him to guard Curry often early. That didn't end well for Davis. That was something I didn't expect, and it was a nice touch that results in Walton earning an A grade instead of a B.
Playing Time/Bench Usage: B+
I have little to complain about regarding the Warriors' playing time. Festus Ezeli played 17 minutes, and produced an impressive 13 points. Curry led the way with 36 minutes, which isn't an excessive amount for him. No one really played too many minutes, which is a promising sign early in the season. However, there wasn't the transcendent part that gives Walton an A grade.
Preparation: A
A championship hangover is a serious concern for a team with a new interim head coach. However, Walton found a way to make sure his team was prepared and ready to play. The Warriors out-hustled the Pelicans and the head coach deserves credit for that. Sure, the players are a huge factor in that, but Walton is deserving of praise. It wasn't a perfect game from the Warriors, but they were ready to go.
Overall: A
Walton is playing with a completely stacked deck, but we're not grading on a curve here. Just because the Warriors are a superior team to the Pelicans (especially with their injury issues) doesn't mean Walton gets a lower grade. He did everything he was supposed to do in the season opener, even if the Pelicans did claw their way back into the game at one point. If Walton continues to get a similar effort from the Warriors with Kerr out, Golden State will be just fine and Walton will be a head coach somewhere in the near future.
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