Why finding a partner for Steph is biggest issue Warriors face

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Why finding a partner for Steph is biggest issue Warriors face originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When the first crack within the new foundation came, the Warriors wore a mask of optimism. They hoped for a reasonably quick fix, studied their options and concluded they’d be strong enough to stay upright until repairs were completed.

They now know otherwise. The crack that formed on Nov. 12 – De’Anthony Melton’s left knee –began the crumbling of the Warriors as they were built to be.

Of the many challenges before the Warriors, not one is, by itself, more significant than a two-way partner next to Stephen Curry. Defense can be improved with communication and attention to detail, but Curry deserves a productive buddy.

Their best starting lineup, with a Curry-Melton backcourt, is gone. It lasted two games, victories at Oklahoma City and at home over the Dallas Mavericks.

“That was really the perfect mix,” coach Steve Kerr said on Nov. 14, before it became clear Melton’s injury would require surgery. “De’Anthony does a little bit of everything: on-ball defense, rebounding, 3-point shooting, playmaking. It was great fit, and that’s why we targeted him.”

“The fact that he’s going to be out the next game is a bummer. We were finding some momentum. We’ll see how this unfolds. We’ve got options, we’ve got a lot of depth, and we were very capable of filling in.”

That was the optimism. The Warriors were 9-2 when Melton left the lineup, the Warriors were 9-2 and their depth was being praised as if it were the answer to all prayers.

Golden State is 3-5 since Melton was sidelined. The “perfect mix” – Curry, Melton, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis – is disintegrated. There is no quick fix.

Kerr initially tried to fill the void with Lindy Waters III, the 13th man in what was a 13-man rotation. Two reasons. One, Kerr typically makes every effort to minimize disruption of successful rotations. Example: There have been occasions when Moses Moody was pulled from the far end of the bench and into the starting lineup to preserve the roles of the sixth through 10th man.

The other…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-finding-partner-steph-biggest-164643118.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-12-03 16:46:00

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