Draymond Green scored three points Tuesday night, then spent 15 minutes making the Warriors’ offense look considerably busier than his scoring line suggests. His eight assists helped shape Golden State’s 124-98 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, while Yaxel Lendeborg’s first-half rebounding gave the pairing its physical counterweight.
That combination is the interesting part for Golden State. Green supplied the decisions from the center position; Lendeborg supplied 17 points and eight rebounds before halftime, finishing with nine boards in 21 minutes. The Warriors found a frontcourt arrangement with distinct jobs rather than two players competing for the same space.
It was also an audition conducted against a diminished Lakers group. Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler did not play, along with several other Los Angeles players. Golden State was missing Jimmy Butler III, Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis and Moses Moody. The result was emphatic, but the opponent’s absences narrow what can responsibly be taken from it.
A useful division of labor
Green started at center beside Lendeborg and attempted one shot, making a 3-pointer. His passing was enough to keep the offense moving as Golden State scored 45 points in the first quarter and 81 by halftime. Stephen Curry added 16 points and five assists in 14 minutes, while Brandin Podziemski scored 16 on 7-for-11 shooting.
That is the lineup value Green can provide when he is not asked to carry the scoring burden. His eight assists gave Golden State another organizer, allowing Curry to work as a scorer and off-ball threat rather than functioning as the answer to every possession. Green’s modest shot total was not a problem because the ball was still finding productive destinations.
Lendeborg’s contribution began with the less glamorous work. He collected eight rebounds before halftime and finished with nine in all, two at the offensive end. He also made seven of his 11 field-goal attempts.
His 2-for-3 shooting from behind the arc added another layer to the experiment. The sample is small, and preseason defenses are hardly a final examination, but a frontcourt partner who can rebound and make outside shots gives Green more room to operate than a player restricted to the paint.
Golden State’s 44-35 rebounding edge supported that reading, even if it was not a demolition. The Warriors also shot 51% overall and 43% from 3-point range, compared with 40% and 35% for Los Angeles. By halftime, the margin was 81-53, and the game had become more lineup laboratory than contest.