NBA preseason is underway, and the Golden State Warriors cruised to a convincing 121-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. There were plenty of good things learned from the preseason opener. Here are 3 takeaways from their performance.

Team chemistry

There was a ton of ball movement and spacing in this game. It looked as if this group had been together for years. Last year, the Warriors led the NBA in assists and could maybe do it again for the second straight season. They registered 32 assists in the win, and four players had at least five dimes.

It was basketball played the right way. Nobody forced anything, and scoring opportunities presented themselves for everybody. Maybe some of the open shots were because of poor defense by the Blazers, but it appeared the Warriors just looked for easy buckets and found them often.

Shooting the 3

The Warriors have added some serviceable shooters to this year's roster. Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and rookie Moses Moody will help spread the floor and let the threes fly. In this first game of the preseason, the team did just that. The Dubs launched a total of 69 three-pointers in this game. An amount they didn't attempt all last season. Although they didn't shoot a high percentage (34.8), most were good looks. When Steve Kerr was asked about his team's high volume shooting, he replied.

Article Continues Below
More Warriors News
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center.
Warriors’ Draymond Green shares clear opinion on Kevin Durant’s trade to RocketsRichard Pereira ·
Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum.
Bucks rumors: Will Milwaukee pursue trade for Andrew Wiggins?Julian Ojeda ·
Siegel's Scoop with Jonathan Kuminga, Myles Turner, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Anfernee Simons
Siegel’s Scoop: Latest Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, NBA free agency intelBrett Siegel ·
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center.
Warriors make $7.9 million Jonathan Kuminga qualifying offerJaren Kawada ·
Mike Dunleavy Jr with a thought bubble over his head. In the thought bubble: draft picks Will Richard and Alex Toohey
Warriors’ Mike Dunleavy Jr. lays out honest 2025 outlook for rookiesKenzo Fukuda ·
Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Jonathan Kumina with "looking" emoji's around them and a big question mark in between them.
Warriors’ Mike Dunleavy Jr. adds to Jonathan Kuminga free-agency mysteryKenzo Fukuda ·

“We're going to take a ton of threes this year,” Kerr told ClutchPoints.

He wasn't bothered one bit. When the coach is behind you and supports your shot selection, it encourages you to shoot even more confidently. When Klay Thompson returns to the lineup later this season, the Warriors could be the best shooting team in the NBA. The Warriors can put five players on the court at one time who can shoot 40 percent or above from deep. Seeing how often they let it fly on Monday showed, beating opponents through the air is the game plan.

Klay's replacement

After one game, it looks like the team has found their replacement for injured Thompson. Third-year guard Jordan Poole dominated the game from start to finish. He scored 30 points, collected five rebounds, and dished out five assists while knocking down seven three-pointers. Now, this isn't what will be expected from him every night, but it proved he can fill in, get hot, and take over a game if needed. The young prospect finished the game hungry and wanting more.

“It's some things we can work on. Coach talked about it right away…It's a work in progress, and I'm just learning as much as I can,” Poole explained to ClutchPoints.

Poole carries all of the tools to be a good player in the NBA. An opportunity to play as a starter for the Warriors could be his chance to break into stardom. If it is, Poole will do it while doing things the right way.

If the Dubs can stay healthy, they will be “chasing wins this season,” as coach Kerr said in his postgame interview.