Draymond accepts Warriors bench role to maximize Kuminga

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Draymond accepts Warriors bench role to maximize Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With Steph Curry and Draymond Green out due to injuries Thursday night against the Houston Rockets, Jonathan Kuminga started for only the sixth time this season, and the 22-year-old was cleared for takeoff, leading the Warriors to a gritty win to snap their five-game losing streak behind a career-high 33 points.

Curry and Green were deemed good to go on the second night of a back-to-back. Curry of course was the Warriors starting point guard, but there was a major change to Steve Kerr’s first five on the floor in Golden State’s 107-90 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kuminga was in the starting lineup. Green was not.

The change is here to stay too, at least for now.

“I want to look at it,” Kerr said. “We’re trying to maximize Jonathan. Playing him with [Andrew Wiggins], playing [Kevon Looney] to start that group means that Draymond doesn’t have to guard the opposing center right from the get-go, which I think is important, and we can close with Draymond at the five.

“So in theory, I like what it looks like. We have to play better. We have to make better decisions.”

Obstacles can get in the way of Kerr’s plan, though. Andrew Wiggins left Friday night’s loss early due to a right ankle impingement, and Moses Moody also exited early because of left knee soreness.

The whole idea of Green coming off the bench, however, is all about Kuminga. After experimenting with him at small forward to begin the season, Kerr has been adamant that Kuminga is a four, not a three, and doesn’t want to play him alongside two non-shooting big men.

In this case, that means not sharing the floor with Green and Looney at the same time.

“We’re trying to make the most of Jonathan’s ability to get downhill, to get him more time,” Kerr explained. “He and Wiggs last night were fantastic. We’re searching for ways to get those guys more involved and not wear down Draymond and Steph.

“That’s kind of the trick. And then finding combinations within that as the game goes.”

The real question is,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-accepts-warriors-bench-role-081834692.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-12-07 08:18:00

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