by Jerry Feitelberg

AP file photo: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in Oct 14th photo is happy for his former assistant coach Luke Walton who is now head coach at the Los Angeles Lakers faced each other in their pre season game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Center Las Vegas on Saturday night

The Golden State Warriors took off with a furry when they ran a 23-9 score up on the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas Saturday night. It wouldn’t take much longer when the W’s inflated that lead to 30 points. That wasn’t all the W’s shooting from the floor was a satisfying 54.3 and they hit their targets beyond the perimeter at 43.5 in the 112-107 exhibition victory.

The Warriors grabbed for the gusto in rebounding over the Lakers 43-38 and had 29 assists and 44 field goals. They picked up from where they left off from last season with another strong talented team assembled. The Warriors also rested many of their starters handling the Lakers and they did it all without Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, or David West each had the game off by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s decision to give them some rest.  Even Klay Thompson (24), Kevin Durant (17), and Stephen Curry (14) didn’t play over 22 minutes in the contest.

The Lakers head coach Luke Walton who was the Warriors head interim coach last season while Kerr was rehabilitating his bad back said that he’s now trying to develop the Lakers player personnel along the same lines when he was at Golden State, “I’m tying to build same culture down here. Obviously it’s different. It’s a different point were at with the youth that we have and new coaches.” said Walton

Walton went onto guide Golden State last season in Kerr’s absence to a 39-4 record and what sold him was that impressive 24-0 start at the beginning of last season Walton had played for the Lakers for eight of his ten seasons in the NBA. The temptation was too great and the offer was too good by his former organization to take the helm at the Lakers and leave his assistant position at Golden State and his former boss at the Warriors Kerr.

After Kobe Bryant’s retirement last season Walton is looking at building around the core players in Los Angeles of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram. At this juncture of the season and with just two weeks until the Lakers opener Walton is still pushing the fundamentals of the offense and defense systems. “Were all going to miss him, but were all happy for him” said Kerr “I know he wouldn’t have taken any other job except the Laker job to leave Golden State. I’m glad we’re in the same division, so at least we’ll be able to see each other four times a year, plus pre season.” said Kerr

For Kerr it won’t be a long wait to see Walton again as the Warriors face the Lakers on Wednesday.

Jerry Feitelberg covers Warriors basketball catch his game recaps home and away at http://www.sportsradioservice.com