In their fourth and final meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and their last of the preseason, the Golden State Warriors got the win!
It was a much-needed victory in a series that exposed all of the Warriors’ weaknesses with their new-look roster and amplified all of the strengths of the Lakers’ retooled frontcourt. With the Warriors’ only other win this preseason coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves — and two of the three losses to the Lakers being in blowout fashion — how did they finally get it done?
Stephen Curry’s 32 points and D’Angelo Russell’s 29 had a lot to do with it, but Glenn Robinson III had a strong starting-lineup debut at small forward.
Glenn Robinson III: A big beneficiary of the Marquese Chriss deal
With an injury wave depleting the center position and a 2-3 preseason record, the Warriors made the difficult decision to waive Alfonzo McKinnie (a well-liked member of the team who happened to have a rough preseason) and sign Marquese Chriss, the surprise of training camp. A beneficiary of this roster move was Glenn Robinson III, who was bumped into the starting lineup at small forward to replace McKinnie.
In the Warriors’ preseason-ending win over the Lakers, Robinson scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds (two on the offensive glass) and recorded two steals. His scoring numbers may not dazzle, but he was good in terms of efficiency: 50% from the field, 60% from 3-point range and 100% from the free-throw line. Although he picked up four personal fouls, he didn’t turn the ball over even once and finished +7 in plus/minus.
Robinson was selected fortieth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Michigan. Before arriving in San Francisco, Robinson played the first five seasons of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. He has career averages of 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He is a 43.9% shooter from the field and averages 36.1% from 3-point range.
Warriors vs. Lakers preseason series
Game 1: 123-101, Lakers.
Game 2: 104-98, Lakers.
Game 3: 126-93, Lakers.
Game 4: 124-103, Warriors.
The Warriors tip off the 2019-20 regular season at Chase Center on Oct. 24 versus the Los Angeles Clippers.
