How Will the Warriors Rotation Look When a Two-Time MVP Returns?
Golden State had a disappointing start in this extended period without their top player, Stephen Curry. They dropped both of their first two games, and evidently lacked a closer in the latter contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the team has shown encouraging signs in their back-to-back victories, especially during a gutsy road win versus last year’s top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Head coach Steve Kerr has used this time to experiment with different lineups, and a few guards have seen increased minutes and responsibilities in Curry’s absence. How much of that will carry over following the two-time MVP’s return is anyone’s guess, but a few things should translate.
Undoubtedly, no single player has benefited more during the last two weeks than Pat Spencer. The undrafted third-year Warrior has arguably had his best stretch of the season recently, scoring double digits in three straight games. This included a career-high 19 points in Cleveland, more than half of which came in the fourth quarter. He was the driving force, the key player in one of Golden State’s most monumental wins so far this year.
Beyond the statistics, Spencer brings a hustle energy that teammates can feed off of, and it sure seems to be paying dividends. During their last five games, the Warriors have held four opponents to below 100 points, and have the NBA’s third-best defensive rating during that span. They have forced teams to play with a tempo outside of their comfort zone and have shown the effort that great defensive teams are often characterized by. Spencer’s minutes should see an uptick even after Curry comes back, at least while he’s got the hot hand.
Brandin Podziemski, a more likely candidate, has also stepped up nicely. Excluding his six-point dud at the Sixers, Podziemski has led Golden State twice in scoring since Curry last played. He’s unfortunately still picked out by opposing guards because of his subpar defensive abilities, but that’s not where coach Kerr needs him to perform. The Santa Clara alum will be called upon to provide offensive relief, most likely off the bench. He shouldn’t really see a dip or rise in usage, as he’ll most likely see the same playing time as before Curry’s injury.
Buddy Hield should also be relatively unaffected, as his role in Kerr’s system has remained the same regardless of moving pieces around him. Hield’s ability as a knockdown shooter often serves in a complementary manner to both slashing forwards and playmaking guards, and that shouldn’t change one bit. Kerr will also continue to use Gary Payton II when the team needs defense more than offense, so his time should still be somewhat restricted. Lastly, Will Richard’s handling is somewhat difficult to predict. His minutes may fluctuate more than any other player, as the rookie still gets accustomed to the NBA and Golden State’s system. There will be times when he’ll take a back seat as more experienced players are preferred, and times when his youth will be used to provide a spark.
Starting from Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the upcoming stretch is pivotal for the Warriors. With their future Hall of Famer returning, coach Kerr will need to handle his guard rotation masterfully. He needs to find a balance for the other guys to stay hot, so that Curry doesn’t get overworked and reinjure his quad. The team has found its groove with a defense-first identity, so if their offense comes along for the ride, the Warriors can leap their mediocrity and chase after the Western Conference’s best teams.
