It’s been a nightmare playoff series for Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski. The second-year player out of Santa Clara has now strung together four straight rough shooting performances against the Minnesota Timberwolves, drawing criticism from Warriors fans. With Stephen Curry sidelined, the added pressure may be proving too much for the 22-year-old.
Head coach Steve Kerr stood by him after a 1-for-10 shooting effort in Game 3. But things didn’t improve much in Game 4, where Podziemski followed up with a 3-for-14 shooting night. The numbers tell a troubling story.
Podziemski Makes NBA History in Worst Possible Way
Podziemski’s shooting struggles have reached historic lows. His step-back threes are missing badly, and his drives to the rim lack touch and confidence. His floaters are falling short, his handles have looked shaky, and he’s totaled seven turnovers — more than double the number of three-pointers he’s made this series.
Brandin Podziemski is shooting 9-for-40 (22.5%) from the field in four games this series. Per @JoshDubowAP, that's the worst of any player in a series (35+ shots) since Pero Antic shot 16.7% for Atlanta in 2014.
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman)
In fact, he made history for the wrong reason, becoming the first player since 2014 to shoot just 22.5% in a playoff series with 35 or more shot attempts.
That’s the lowest percentage since Pero Antic shot 16% for the Atlanta Hawks in 2014.
To be fair, Podziemski is a streaky shooter who has shown both promise and inconsistency this season. He had one breakout playoff performance, dropping 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting from deep in Game 4 of the first round against the Houston Rockets.
He also ended the regular season on a high note, averaging 17.4 points in April while shooting 50.5% from the field and 48% from 3-point range.
Unfortunately, his current slump mirrors his November form, when he averaged just 6.8 points on 22% shooting from three and 38% overall. This type of roller-coaster production is typical for young players trying to find consistency at the NBA level.
The key for Podziemski is learning how to contribute when his shot isn’t falling. He needs to avoid these historically bad stretches and find other ways to impact the game.
It’s also unfair to pin the Warriors’ playoff woes solely on him. Even veteran star Jimmy Butler III is coming off a disappointing 14-point Game 4 performance.
Still, with Golden State’s championship window closing, and Curry’s quest for a fifth ring possibly nearing its end, the team can’t afford to wait for Podziemski to figure things out.
He’ll get another chance on Wednesday, May 13, in Game 5. The Warriors need a spark, and Podziemski needs a bounce-back night just as badly. If he can give them one, the Warriors have a chance of extending the series.
