Warriors Rookie Quinten Post, once rescued by Steph Curry, returns

On By Littum

San Francisco-about an hour after Quinten Post completed a 20-minute breakout performance of 20 points in Warriors’ home victory at 131-106 over Bulls on Thursday, he shared an unsolicited story of Steph Curry, which meant a lot to the unknown rookie.

After the team landed in San Francisco after a recent road trip, post had trouble finding a trip home around 02.30. Uber didn’t work for him, he said. As many in the organization filtered into the parking lot and away from the airport, Curry, who often moves in his personal life at a methodical pace, that the troubled post was trying to find out the logistics of his exit as the opportunities disappeared.

“Steph is like, ‘are you trying to go home?'” Post remembered. “Yes.” I have you. “

Post assessed that Curry took a 20-minute detour to get him where he was going. It was a small and forgettable gesture for curry. When it was told that Post had shared it with journalists, Curry laughed delighted and said he “loved the child” but that beginners reveal too much. But for post, this was obviously a symbolic moment of leadership as he gets used to the NBA life.

“It just shows how he is as a person,” Post said. “Out of the 50 people at the airport he was the last person to worry if I came home.”

Post delivered that anecdote only because his game on the field justified a trip on the podium. Warriors have had a bottom-five offensive in the league for the past two months, and as they have lost Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green for injuries while tumbling through a 9-19 stretch, Steve Kerr has gone in search of some offensive answers.

Post, which was drafted in 52nd place in June and the shoe horn into the list of a two-way contract, had shown promising in his latest G League stay, scoring 30, 30 and 27 in three games in early January. He is a true 7-foot player who got more than 40 percent of his college 3s at Mississippi State and Boston College and impressed Green, Kevon Looney and the coaching staff in the camp enough with his toughness and physicality to warrant an opportunity.

There were even people in the organization who were a little annoyed that the front office didn’t get him to Minnesota in time for the shorthanded match against Timberwolves to close the previous road trip. In recent weeks, the staff have gained increasing belief that Post, an older rookie of 24, may be able to fill an obvious void as a floor spacing center.

Go deeper

Go deeper

Who is Warriors? Trade Deadline asks for some boldness at Zach Lavine level

“He played five years with college basketball,” Kerr said. “He’s an old -fashioned rookie. Fyre 25 years ago came ready to play because they played all the college ball and got that foundation under him. It’s quinten. Then the biggest thing in the last few months in Santa Cruz is that The staff that did a great job of working him defensively. Back in the paint?

Post credited some of his defensive acclimatization to regular conversations with the former Warriors-Center Zaza Pachulia, who remains a prominent member on the business side of the organization and was seen in the dressing room after the match on Thursday night.

But Post’s arrival in the rotation is about what he does at the offensive end. The defense sells out to stop Steph Curry, and post, a willing and accurate shooter, benefits from letting it fly from above the arch with regularity for the past two nights. Post tried 10 3s and made five of them in 20 minutes Thursday against Bulls. On 61 career minutes he has already tried 22 3s.

“The last few matches we have fought a little offensively,” Post said. “That’s why I get a chance. It doesn’t make sense if I come in and don’t play my game. Shot the shots I thought were good shots. Glad a few pieces went in.”

Post was part of a bench outbreak against Bulls. Gui Santos beat another five 3s and had 19 points. Warriors were a plus-31 with him on the floor. Moses Moody had four blocks and four 3s. Warriors were a plus-33 with him on the floor. Brandin Podziemski returned from an absence of 12 games and sparked the team, resembling the magnificent rookie, which burst on the field a season ago.

But Post was the postgame story and Curry has not been able to hide his joy in development. He beamed when a couple of Posts five made 3s walked in towards Bulls.

“He picks and jumps,” Kerr said. “That means the other team’s big guy has to go with him. That means the defender is not in the paint. Steph (Curry) was the happiest guy in the building tonight with all the place to work with. The game was much easier for all of our guys. ”

Basketball 100

Basketball 100

The story of the greatest players in NBA’s history. In 100 compelling profiles, top basketball authors justify their choices and reveal the NBA’s history in the process.

The story of the greatest plays in NBA’s history.

BuyBuy The Basketball 100

Post will continue to be a highlighted part of the rotation in the upcoming games. Stiffer tests are immediately ahead. Warriors meet Anthony Davis and Lakers in a showcase match on Saturday night and Post will be a well-known part of their pregame scout. How does Post handle the physical? Warriors will meet Thunder next Wednesday. How does he handle what will be a targeted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attack on him in space?

“He sees and feels the game, and he has some hardness for him,” Kerr said. “He’s a physical 7-foot player. He’s not a finesse 7-foot. He’s a real 7-foot player and likes to mix it together.”

Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and Athletics staff, delivered free of charge to your inbox.

(Photo: Kelley L Cox / Imag Images)