The Golden State Warriors have always defined the plays of their star players. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are the three that have led the success of this franchise, leading them to four championships since 2015. Just looking at this season so far, it’s clear how effective Curry is on a nightly basis. , hit a clutch triple and continued to set records at age 35.
Remembering every Warriors and#039; four championship runs, but one constant that stands out is the depth outside of their core group.
In 2015, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa were on the bench. After a couple of years in 2017 and 2018, Livingston and Iguodala continued to thrive in their respective roles, with JaVale McGee and even Kevon Looney stepping up in the second unit. Most recently during the 2022 championship, Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. provided the necessary championship-level depth on the bench.
Last season was a big disappointment for the Warriors and it never looked like they had a chance to defend their title. Injuries, lack of communication and reluctance to play different roles limited the team and overall potential. Not to mention, Golden State’s bench has struggled to find its own identity amid constant lineup changes. It was one of the many factors that led to their elimination in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Warriors entered the 2023-24 season with new life and energy. Curry and his teammates look rejuvenated after a longer-than-usual offseason, and Golden State has built a bench willing to buy into fewer roles for the team’s success.
Warriors and#039; bench in the league and among the best
Warriors and#039; Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody
Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and Dario Saric are the four focal points of the Warriors and#039; bench unit this season. So far, all five players have played different roles to eliminate Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the team’s starting core. While many questioned how Paul would fit on the Warriors team, he was a stabilizing presence in the backcourt. Not only was Paul an upgrade to Jordan Poole in that the veteran doesn’t turn the ball over and can play on this team and the All-Stars, but the future Hall of Fame guard had a similar matchup. Andre Iguodala and the role of Shaun Livingston.
For years, Iguodala and Livingston were players who came into the game and immediately made their presence known, changing the pace, tone and flow with a high basketball IQ. Paul isn’t the Iggy or Livingston of a point guard, but he continues to find success in slowing things down and allowing the Warriors to find high percentage shots down the court.
The Warriors have really embraced Pauland’s contributions, and head coach Steve Kerr has only good things to say about the 38-year-old. “It’s huge. It’s huge how Chris has embraced everyone here in the first month he’s been with us,” Kerr said earlier in the season. “When a vet, an All-Star, shows that kind of sacrifice, it sets the tone for the whole team.”
As good as Paul has been in possession and finding open teammates, the rest of the bench has really stepped up this season. Saric and Kuminga provided much-needed depth up front, and Moody became a more confident striker and goal scorer. As for Payton, he remains one of the most underrated guards in the league and happens to be on the Warriors and number 039; the two best defensive formations this season. Speaking of Warriors and#039; rounds, their five-man group of Paul, Moody, Payton, Kuminga and Saric played the most minutes together behind the team and the starting rotation. This bench unit struggled to put up points at times, hence their negative net rating, but they held opponents to just 111.0 points per 100 possessions, which is a very respectable number for a bench unit.
Overall, the Warriors are also fifth in bench shots this season. Believe it or not, their bench is first in the league and second in offense. The Warriors are currently getting effort and intensity from their secondary talent, which has helped them start the 2023-24 season with a 6-3 record, including five wins at the Chase Center. “When we saw the schedule at the beginning of the year and saw seven of the first nine go, especially with a lot of new guys and trying to get new guys, Draymond [Green] was out all camp and said we just got to get over it,” Kerr said after Wednesday night’s game against Denver, via Anthony Slater of The Athletic and#039;. “We won 6-3. We’re 5-2 on the road. It’s a great way to start the year. We’re in good shape. The team is united and competes every night.
Whether it’s Paul, Kuminga, Saric or someone else, the Warriors and#039; the bench has really been the driving force behind their early season success. Kerr acknowledged that, and although they may not be the first players off the bench, Golden State’s rookies could also make a difference in the team’s victories.
Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis deserve trust
Warriors and#039; Trayce Jackson-Davis with Brandin Podziemski
It can be really hard to find minutes as a rookie in the NBA, especially if you’re not one of the first players to be drafted. When the Warriors drafted Brandin Podziemski in the first round and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the second last summer, no one really imagined either rookie would be this big.
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