During the first 25 minutes of their 110-106 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors seemed to be in a dead state of affairs.
Before heading out on the road for four games, the Warriors were taking on a club that had the second-worst record in the Western Conference. This young, inexperienced rebuilding squad may have been the ideal antidote to a trying week.
Rather, after a lengthy workout on Tuesday and two days off, it was just another game of seeking for answers. After the game, coach Steve Kerr said that everything is up for grabs since they are still looking for answers after 21 games.
This year, the puzzle hasn’t fit, according to Kerr. “A number of people have been performing well, but depending on the opponent, we may need to consider switching up our starting lineup from game to game. We haven’t established anything this year, but I’d still want to acquire anything substantial. We’re just 25% of the way through, so much consideration has to be given to this.”
Golden State is tied for the second-most starting lineup changes in the NBA with nine lineup changes already this season. No team has utilized more than the Miami Heat.
The majority of the modifications were brought about by injuries and suspensions; most recently, Andrew Wiggins missed two games due to right finger pain, while Draymond Green was suspended for five games. However, the regular starting lineup of Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Green, Wiggins, and Stephen Curry has struggled when they have shared the court.
Curry finished with 31 points on 8 of 18 shots against Portland, but Thompson started the second half with only two points and ended up with eleven, while Wiggins and Looney finished with nine and six points, respectively.
That starting lineup was the most dominant in the league the previous season, outscoring opponents by 145 points, enough for the second-best plus-minus of any five-man team. However, the Warriors have been outscored by 25 points in the 113 minutes those five have played together this season. Based on analysis from ESPN Stats & Information, it is the worst plus-minus for any Golden State squad.
“I’ve really been patient and hoping to get our starting unit from the last couple of years into a good groove,” Kerr said. “When everyone understands precisely where they belong in, it’s simpler to teach and play. Additionally, when there is a predetermined rotation and everyone is doing effectively, it makes it simpler for role players to fit the jigsaw.”
Kerr finds it more difficult to alter this lineup than it is to say.
Speaking about his players, he said he “gives a long rope” to those who have “been there and done that,” winning four titles for the team.
As a result of the starters’ struggles, Kerr said that the rotation would remain a free-for-all for the foreseeable future.
“Every night is going to be different with this team, that’s what I am figuring out,” Kerr said. “What we need appears to change every night based on the game’s progress and the matchup. Every night is unpredictable, and playing ten or eleven players is challenging. Regarding who will play each and every night, our roster is unclear.”
Curry also mentioned how adaptable the Warriors must be.
“There have been situations this year, obviously lost some big leads because we haven’t been able to adapt quick enough in those kinds of games,” he said. “It’s the same thing with Coach’s decisions [that] he has to make on a night-to-night basis.”
Late in the third quarter on Wednesday, Kerr looked to third-year forward Jonathan Kuminga to give the Warriors hope. In what Kerr referred to as the “key to the game,” Kuminga scored 13 points on a flawless 6-of-6 shooting effort in the last 17 minutes of play after sitting for the first 31 of the game. In addition, he made a crucial theft off a careless Portland inbound pass, which set Curry up for a game-winning dagger shot.
“It’s huge because that’s what he’s asked to do right now,” Curry said. “The challenge for everyone in our locker room is to remain focused and take the appropriate attitude. You are not required to feel joy about it. You’re not forced to accept it, however.
“For him, the difficulty was not allowing his absence from the starting lineup to affect his preparation throughout the first half. We would lose this game if he hadn’t shown maturity and remained prepared.”
Although Curry said that the assumption has always been that the closers would be chosen by who is playing well, Kuminga closing instead of Wiggins or Chris Paul was an illustration of the choices Kerr will have to make going ahead.
For an instant, it seemed if Kerr might also end the game with Moses Moody instead of Thompson, instructing Thompson to return to the bench as he reached the scorer’s table to register. At the following timeout, however, Thompson would be substituted for Moody.
According to a source who spoke with ESPN, the younger men are aware that the veterans will have more chances. However, with the season halfway over, Golden State is 10-11, and everything is on the line.
“You factor in the human being, you factor in injuries, you factor in rhythm,” Kerr said. “There is still no certainty for us. I’m trying to encourage my players, maintain their composure, and give everyone an opportunity.”
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