Brandin Podziemski said the Golden State Warriors are still building toward the play-in round, even as injuries and lineup changes continue to reshape the rotation. After Thursday’s 119-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, he said the focus is on availability, adaptability and trust.
Podziemski credited the influence of veterans and the lessons he has taken from earlier seasons around the roster. “I had Loon [Kevon Looney] do it my first year, Buddy [Hield] do it last year,” he said. “So just to see the habits that they had and then just really finding a flow for me after my injuries last year.”
That consistency, he said, has been part of a larger effort to stay on the floor every night. “It just helped me just try to be available every game for the team,” Podziemski said.
He added that the routine changes from game to game, but the standard stays the same. “Just being consistent. Finding what works,” he said. “If there’s two days between a game, if there’s one day, if it’s a back to back, just finding those solutions cuz it’s a little bit different for each.”
Golden State is trying to sort out its playoff rotation in real time, and Podziemski said the next two games are about putting pieces together. “Just put pieces together, put lineups together that work,” he said. “It’s just really about building our principles and having everybody available and seeing what it looks like and going to Wednesday swinging.”
He is confident the Warriors can handle a short prep window if the right players return. “It shouldn’t be too hard,” Podziemski said. “I think we got a lot of winners on our team.”
Podziemski pointed to the championship experience on the roster as a reason for optimism. “Steph, I mean that solves a lot of it,” he said. “But I also think like I mentioned earlier we got a lot of winners. KP’s won a championship. Horford’s won a championship. Steph and Dre. Then we got vets that have won championships, Gary.”
For Podziemski, the postseason mindset is simple. “This is like a game seven,” he said. “You just lay it all out there and just compete as much as you can.”
He also said the Warriors are already studying possible play-in opponents, with Portland and the Clippers in view. “Big game tomorrow too,” Podziemski said. “We’ll be able to feel it.”
