The Bench Outplayed the Box Score Against Portland
Golden State's reserves kept the preseason loss in Portland competitive while most of the regular rotation stayed home, and a payroll already past the luxury tax line means these minutes may outlast the preseason.
Golden State is 1-2 through three preseason games, including a 123-118 loss at Portland on Oct. 7 in which bench scorer Miles Kelly led all players with 24 points and a team-best plus-14. The Warriors' payroll sits at $223.3M, leaving little margin to replace minutes if the expensive core misses time once the regular season starts.
Three Preseason Games, One Lopsided Box Score
Golden State is 1-2 in preseason play, and the shape of the Portland loss said more than the result. Starters scored 73 of the team's 118 points; the bench accounted for the other 45, led by Miles Kelly's 24 off the bench on 8-of-16 shooting, including 6 of 11 from three. Kelly also finished at a team-best plus-14 in 28 minutes, the only Warrior in positive territory by more than four points.
Why the Reserves Played So Many Minutes
NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Curry, Draymond Green and seven other regulars did not travel to Portland, clearing the floor for Kelly, Brandon Williams, Dalen Terry and Will Richard to play starter-sized roles. Williams added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and Terry finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists in 43 minutes. That production won't count toward the record Golden State chases once the real season starts, but it is live evidence of what this group can do with the ball.
A Payroll With No Slack
Golden State's payroll is $223.3M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line and into the league's top tax apron. Curry ($62.6M), Jimmy Butler ($56.8M), Green ($27.7M) and Kristaps Porzingis ($19.5M) account for most of that number. A team parked there loses the ability to add salary by trade, so if the rotation thins once games count, internal options like Kelly and Williams are the plan, not a stopgap.
The Baseline These Numbers Have to Beat
Last season Golden State finished 37-45 with a net rating of -0.5 (113.8 offense, 114.4 defense), a mark that ranked 20th of 30 teams. Curry still averaged 26.6 points across 43 games and Butler 20.0 across 38, proof the top of the roster produced even as the record did not. Whatever the reserves showed in Portland has to move that offensive and defensive math, not just fill a preseason box score.
Why did Miles Kelly play so many minutes against Portland?
Curry, Draymond Green and several other regulars did not travel for the game, per NBC Sports Bay Area, so Kelly and the rest of the bench played starter-sized roles. Kelly made the most of it, scoring 24 points and finishing a team-best plus-14 in 28 minutes.
Is Golden State over the salary cap this season?
Yes. The Warriors' payroll is $223.3M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line and into the league's top tax apron, which limits how much salary the team can add during the season.
