Finding Perfect Rotation for the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have gotten out to a tremendous start this season under the new system put in place by head coach Steve Kerr. After back-to-back losses to the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, Kerr may have to re-examine how to juggle his rotation of players.
In the 107-95 loss to the Suns on Nov. 9, Kerr chose to keep point guard Stephen Curry in the game close to the end of the third quarter. Curry proceeded to commit two quick fouls and turned the ball over.
As the San Jose Mercury News’ Diamond Leung reported, Kerr blamed himself. "That's my mistake," Kerr stated.
With Curry on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Suns continued their torrid pace and stopped the Warriors' five-game win streak.
Things didn’t get better in the 113-100 loss to the Spurs on Nov. 11, as the Warriors were completely outplayed by the defending champions. Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes led the charge, but Curry snapped his 75-game streak of making a three-pointer by going 0-for-7.
Per Leung again, Kerr got a firsthand look of how the Warriors eventually would like to evolve as a team:
"I think tonight was the perfect example of the team that's been together forever. They know each other like the back of their hands. They've been through every war. They've been through every scenario. They know how to execute. And we've been together six weeks with this coaching staff and our players.
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Is there cause for concern here? Is Kerr rotating his players at the right junctures? Let's take a closer look.
Guards
Curry has been playing at a level that surpasses even his All-Star-caliber performance from last season. His line reads 26 points, 6.9 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in 35 minutes going into the Nov. 13 game versus the Brooklyn Nets.
The career-high and league-leading three steals per contest are great, but that statistic is offset by his very careless 4.6 turnovers per game within the new offense.
Thompson is showing that he is worth every penny of his new four-year contract. He is attacking more on offense, scoring at an even higher level than in seasons past while remaining strong on the defensive end.
Thompson is not far behind Curry, with his measurables being 24.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game in 34.5 minutes.
Both players have already each won an NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award, and it’s only the third week of the season.
Forming arguably the best backcourt in the NBA, Curry and Thompson need to be on the court together as much as possible. However, staggering the duo for a few minutes while one sits may help the second team by forcing the opponent to wear out starters or not overmatch the backups.
Shaun Livingston has done a decent job as Curry’s backup, but he is definitely not firing up shots in his 13.6 minutes. He does average two assists per game, but he is putting up 2.6 attempts per game from the field with no tries from behind the arc.
Livingston has a difficult task, because Curry is the bread and butter of the team. He's is still not 100 percent healthy since having surgery on his right big toe, as he looks slower and less involved with the offense.
Until Livingston gets the bounce back in his step, Kerr should experiment with giving some point time to Andre Iguodala, who has struggled in the past couple of games. However, Iguodala and Livingston on the court at the same time could cannibalize themselves, as CSN Bay Area’s Monte Poole tweeted:
As for the backup shooting guard, Leandro Barbosa has been a spark plug for the underperforming bench unit. Barbosa has averaged 8.4 points per game in 17 minutes, even replacing Thompson in the lineup against Phoenix when he was shelved due to a sprained right hand.
Kerr must continue to maximize the utility of the "Splash Brothers," but he needs to keep them around the 35-minute mark in order to have them playing their best come playoff time. He also needs to give crucial minutes to his backup guards, Iguodala included, in order to keep a healthy bench production.
Forwards
The biggest question here is the same one that plagued the Warriors last season. Do you start Barnes or Iguodala at the 3 position?
The player who starts excels with that gig, while the other doesn’t produce as expected in the sixth-man role.
The same effect that afflicted Barnes last season is having its way with the once-steady Iguodala. That result is an underperforming sub off the bench.
Iguodala had this mindset when he was switched from a starting role to the sixth man, per USA Today's Sam Amick:
Barnes has regained his form from his rookie season and put up a season-high 22 points against the Spurs. Iguodala made his first field goal in the past two games when he finally scored in the fourth quarter versus the Spurs.
It is feast or famine at this position.
Kerr doesn’t necessarily feel that Iguodala is already a major problem. LetsGoWarriors.com tweeted Kerr’s response:
Iguodala understands his role, and he was happy that Kerr was so clear about the decision. Per USA Today’s Sam Amick, Iguodala might not like the role, but he understands what he needs to do.
"I think the best way to (convince players to play the sixth man role) is to just be honest about it. What are you trying to do? What's your goal? Why do you think it works? And that's what Coach Kerr did. He was like, 'All right, I think you're better playing with the second unit because the second unit (will be) better — you make them go.' I was like, 'All right, cool.'..I mean I can argue, and say, '(Expletive), I make the first team better too. I don't care who I'm playing with, I'm making everybody better.'
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Coach Kerr may need to shake things up with this rotation by giving Iguodala a more significant role as he transitions to sixth man. Kerr needs to use him in late-game situations for defensive purposes or give him more time as the backup point so Iguodala can be a productive member of the team.
In the first half of the Nov. 13 game versus the Brooklyn Nets, Iguodala made his presence felt:
At the power forward position, David Lee’s hamstring injury has given Draymond Green a chance to really prove his worth to the new coach. Green has provided what Kerr needs with a balance of solid defensive play, quality offense and an understanding of how to do the little things.
Green is getting 33.1 minutes a game, while increasing his stats across the board compared to last season. He currently averages 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Lee is a sure scorer and playmaker, but he might have to adjust his role upon his return. In his only game this season, he came off the bench.
Kerr will have to evaluate the play of both forwards and the team's results before locking into an everyday approach. Green is very comfortable coming off the bench and was a major energy boost last season.
Center
Andrew Bogut has transitioned seamlessly to his new ball-handling center position. He has been helping set the table for the offense while screening opponents and taking advantage of rebounds and follow-ups.
He is continuing his dominance on the defensive side of the floor by scraping up rebounds (10.3 per game) and swatting balls away (1.9 blocks per game). He is still barking out formations and is the commanding presence on defense.
Adam Lauridsen of the Mercury News gives a great description of what Bogut brings to the table:
"At times, watching Andrew Bogut play defense can be a bit like watching a horror movie — with Bogut playing the villain. Unsuspecting opponents will drive down the lane, unaware of what tragic fate awaits them. Everyone in the audience knows what is coming next, but that awareness of ultimate doom doesn’t detract from the visceral thrill when Bogut gets his hands on them.
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Unlike last season when Festus Ezeli was out injured, Bogut now has some quality reinforcements giving him necessary breaks. Bogut still plays almost 29 minutes per game, but Ezeli is doing a serviceable job in his almost 10 minutes per game.
Ezeli can defend, but he is making baby strides with his offensive game. He hasn’t developed a go-to post move yet and is slightly more comfortable with the ball.
As a result, Kerr has been leaning heavily on Marreese Speights as the regular backup. The Mercury News’ Leung tweeted Kerr’s feeling about Speights:
Speights is playing at a higher level in his second year with the Warriors, as he is hitting 62.5 percent of his shots. He also has an advantage because he can play both forward and center.
Ognjen Kuzmic has only played in two games so far. Kuzmic is still learning the NBA game, but he too is making strides. However, he has yet to score a point this season.
Looking at the candidates, this is a Bogut train here. The Warriors are at their best whenever he can be on the floor.
Finding the Perfect Rotation
The starting five of Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Bogut or the Iguodala-for-Barnes switch is the most productive lineup because of their fluidity on both sides of the court. The latter is preferred, but Barnes is trying to prove he belongs as the permanent starter.
Livingston, Barbosa and Speights are key substitutes, and Kerr will determine what the eventual Lee and Green minutes split will be. When the offense is clicking, it is one of the most dangerous in the NBA.
Kerr will definitely have to learn on the fly, making the necessary adjustments to get the greatest utility out of his starters and as much bang for the buck from his substitutes.
He will definitely test out the entire roster during the season, but when playoff time arrives, he will most definitely shrink the bench to his top eight or nine guys.
So, sit back and enjoy the ride!
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