As the Warriors navigate the loss of Stephen Curry to a “tricky” hamstring strain, head coach Steve Kerr is going to have to reshape the game plan on the fly. That includes opening up minutes to players who might not have gotten as many opportunities otherwise.
“There’s no Steph. It’s a completely different team,” Kerr said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater (via Twitter). He pointed at two players in particular who will play a part in the team’s Game 3 approach: Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
“Everything has to be about finding a new formula and [Kuminga] is absolutely a part of that formula,” he said.
Kuminga only played 50 total minutes in the Warriors’ seven-game series against the Rockets, but with Curry down, he logged 26 minutes in Game 2 against the Timberwolves, scoring 18 points on 11 shots. With few offensive options outside of Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski, Kuminga’s ability to score and pressure the rim will be important to keeping the offense running.
When it comes to Jackson-Davis, Kerr said, “[He] showed he can be effective against this team,” referencing the second-year center’s 15-point, six-rebound performance in just 19 minutes in Game 2. Jackson-Davis has only played more than six minutes twice in this postseason, but Curry’s injury means the team is leaning more into its defensive personnel.
Here are more Warriors notes:
- The Warriors have spent years trying to mold Kuminga into the team-first player they want him to be, with mixed results, but now they’ll have to rely on him playing like the star-in-the-making he considers himself, writes The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II. As long as Curry is out, Kuminga has a runway to prove himself both now and for the future, with restricted free agency around the corner. “This has not been an easy stretch for (him),” Kerr said after Game 2. “He really came out there and did a great job today and showed what he’s made of. Obviously, he’ll be back out there in Game 3. We’re gonna need him.”
- Jimmy Butler admitted after Game 2 that he’s still feeling the effects of the hard fall he took in the first round against Houston, which resulted in him being diagnosed with a pelvic contusion (Twitter video link via Slater). Butler has shot 39.4% from the field through two games against the Wolves, though in typical fashion, his contributions extend across the box score — he has averaged nine rebounds and six assists per night.
- The Warriors are the first team in NBA history to use 14 players in the first half of a playoff game, Slater writes for The Athletic. This was part of a broader push from Kerr and the coaching staff to throw different things at the wall to see what sticks while not overtaxing their remaining stars. “We went into the game thinking we’d play a lot of people short-burst minutes, try to protect Jimmy and Draymond,” Kerr said. “They’ve been playing huge minutes every other day, flying all over the country. We had to weigh that.” That approach included going away from the struggling Quinten Post and Moses Moody, whom the team had turned to in the previous series, in favor of Kuminga and Jackson-Davis. Expect Kerr to continue searching for combinations and riding hot hands as the team looks to manufacture offense and stay alive until Curry can return.
Wolves in 5. It was like they were playing a D-league team.
Just like how they looked in game 1 with their star player
So you’re saying the wolves are good enough to be tied 1-1 with a D league team? Ok, Got it.
Well, I don’t think you really believe that. I just think you’re trying to say something negative about the Golden State Warriors.
Something.., anything.., as long as you’re bashing them, you’re good.
OK fair enough at least you’ve been consistent lol
Yeah odd since the “D-League” Dubs came within 7 pts at one point LOL
That’s not close, to be within 7pts for one brief instance. It was literally 13-0 halfway through the 1Q, they only scored their first bucket because they picked on Wolves terrible defender Randall.
GS will win the series if MN has 3 straight historically bad games where they go 0-15 from 3pt line. You wanna bet that doesn’t happen again this series, let alone 3 times.
Dubs approached it like a spring training baseball game. I wasn’t expecting them to win both in Minnesota anyways – even with Steph, it would have been a long shot (not sure if pun intended; let’s go with MAYBE) – so I’m quite okay with Kerr’s decision to do such. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions after Game 2 (especially in a 1-1 scenario). Game 3, however, is the one that’ll tell us a lot. If it’s another Wolves blowout, we should start thinking about which matchup intrigues us more: Wolves/Nuggets or Wolves/Thunder. If the Warriors win OR if they lose by, say, single digits, while keeping it close into crunchtime, then I’m confident (hopeful?) it’ll be a long series (6-7 games), allowing Steph a chance to return.
Yeah, everyone knew it was going to be a feel out game … it was pretty amazing to see all 14 players play LOL.
I have a question for Warrior fans ……. 2 actually
What do you expect from Kuminga now that Curry is out ????
What do you think he will do ????