Why Oubre feels like college freshman in first season with Dubs
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Why Oubre feels like college freshman in first season with Dubs
Kelly Oubre Jr. said he feels like a college freshman in his first season with the Warriors.
If his career night in Golden State’s blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night is any indication, he might now be an upperclassman.
Oubre scored a career-high 40 points (on 14-of-21 shooting and 7-of-10 on 3-pointers), adding eight rebounds, two assists and a steal in the Warriors’ 147-116 boat-racing of the Mavs in Dallas.
“[It] was more of a psychological change,” Oubre said of joining Golden State this offseason on “Warriors Postgame Live.” “I have the tools to take it to the next step, but, mentally, I have to slow myself down, and wrap everything and find my flow. I’m finding that gradually, so I’m really happy to play with a great player in Steph [Curry] so we can continue to push this [momentum] forward.”
Oubre and Curry hadn’t really clicked in their minutes together this season, but the 25-year-old looked like a natural fit for the Warriors on Thursday.
Without any true centers, Golden State pushed the pace against Dallas, to Oubre’s benefit. He consistently slashed through the Mavs’ defense, finishing the night with five combined dunks and layups. The wing also knocked down both of his mid-range jumpers, and was particularly efficient (3-of-5) on corner 3-pointers.
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Oubre’s shot has been inconsistent at best this season, beginning with an almost unprecedented season-opening cold streak followed by up-and-down performances over the last month. His second-half struggles in Tuesday’s loss to the Boston Celtics might’ve been the low point of his season, and Oubre said Thursday’s performance was particularly cathartic.
“It felt good,” Oubre said. “We’ve got another one coming up in two days, so [we’ve] gotta focus on that. But just to get all that stuff — all the rust off — finally, felt really good.”
The Warriors have over a semester’s worth of games left, with 50 remaining after Thursday. Oubre’s starting to find his way around the Warriors’ proverbial campus, and that can only help Golden State’s playoff push.
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