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OAKLAND — The play seemingly came out of nowhere, as Warriors forward Patrick McCaw jumped, extended his right arm and converted off a putback dunk.

The play electrified the crowd. The play prompted the Warriors’ bench to erupt. And the play in the Warriors’ win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at Oracle Arena demonstrated the kind of aggressiveness the Warriors want McCaw to show consistently.

“I didn’t even know I could do that,” McCaw said after practice on Thursday. “My reaction, I was kind of surprised in my head. I didn’t know I could jump that high. But the reaction was way better than a dunk.”

Patrick McCaw DUNK pic.twitter.com/mVEKaOJq5Y — Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 21, 2017

For McCaw’s next feat, he hopes he can achieve something that might require a higher leap when the Warriors (25-6) play on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers (11-18) at Oracle Arena. Can the 22-year-old McCaw become more aggressive consistently during his second NBA season?

“I try and think the game a couple of plays ahead. I find myself overthinking things sometimes as a player,” McCaw said following practice on Thursday. “Being young, I think that’s the biggest thing I’m battling as a basketball player. Once I start to find that balance in between playing my game and also thinking the game and finding that balance in between the two, it’s going to help me out in the long run. I’m just finding my way right now and getting a feel.”

McCaw has averaged 3.5 points on 43.9 percent shooting in 14.5 minutes through 27 games, which actually marks a decrease from his rookie season when he posted 4.0 points on 43.3 percent shooting in 15.1 minutes through 71 appearances. Even with Warriors guard Stephen Curry missing the past six games because of a sprained right ankle, McCaw’s increased minutes has not resulted in increased production.

After missing two games stemmed from a concussion, McCaw averaged 1.75 points on 7.6 percent shooting in 24.75 minutes in the past four contests. Warriors coach Steve Kerr also started McCaw in only one of those games, while opting for veteran Shaun Livingston on Dec. 11 against Portland and undrafted guard Quinn Cook on Dec. 14 against Dallas and on Wednesday against Memphis.

“The second season doesn’t automatically make things easier just because you had a good rookie year. Sometimes teams adjust and adapt,” Kerr said. “In Pat’s case, he just needs to play and not think too much. He’s so smart, he’s such a smart player and sometimes his brain gets in his own way. If he’d just rely on his talent, and react, and not worry about making mistakes, then he’ll do better.”

Kerr believed McCaw made a “good step in the right direction” on Wednesday against Memphis by posting eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. McCaw has heard from varying sources about the need to play that way, including Curry, Draymond Green and David West. McCaw said that his, father, Jeff, tells him “a million and one things” every night after serving as a longtime high school coach in the St. Louis area.

“That’s the thing that keeps me going. I hear his voice and he’s telling me little tips about the game I didn’t even see or remember happening,” McCaw said. “He knows it front and back. That helps me out a lot. He just happens to be in my ear and is pushing me to get better.”