Jonathan Kuminga began the season as a starter for the Golden State Warriors, but by the end of the regular season, he was completely out of the rotation. Steve Kerr explained that while Kuminga`s inconsistent play played a part, the main reason was fitting him into the team`s changing dynamics, especially after Jimmy Butler joined and became a focus.
Steve Kerr explained in early April that Jimmy Butler`s arrival significantly impacted Kuminga`s minutes at the power forward spot. Kerr noted that as soon as Butler joined and the team started winning (going 17-3 during one stretch), they favored lineups that enhanced Butler`s effectiveness. He admitted a lineup with Butler, Kuminga, and Draymond Green lacked spacing, stating they found other, more successful combinations, which is “just part of the deal being in the NBA.”
Kuminga remained out of the rotation when the playoffs started against the Houston Rockets. An injury to Butler allowed Kuminga to play in Games 2 and 3, but he was benched again for Game 4 upon Butler`s return and hasn`t played since. The Warriors won Game 4 at home but then lost Games 5 and 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 in Houston on Sunday. Coach Kerr has shuffled the starting lineup four times in six games and hasn`t established a consistent rotation as easily as Houston. With their season on the line Sunday, the question is whether Kerr might consider using Kuminga again?
Despite Kerr emphasizing the need for better spacing as the reason for Kuminga`s reduced role, he opted to start Gary Payton II, another player with inconsistent shooting, alongside Butler and Draymond Green in Game 6. This move appeared aimed at improving defense, especially against Fred VanVleet, and potentially utilizing Alperen Sengun more in pick-and-rolls due to Payton`s skill as a screener and roller. However, the Warriors were outscored by 12 points during Payton`s time on the court in a game they lost by eight. Their offensive spacing suffered, resulting in only 32 points scored in the paint.
It`s uncertain if Kuminga would perform better, but he possesses unique strengths that could be valuable in this series. He is arguably the Warriors` top athlete. The physically larger Rockets have dominated Golden State throughout the series. While Payton is a superior on-ball defender, Kuminga is larger and could be more effective in the physical, grind-it-out style Houston prefers. He can set screens for Stephen Curry, handle the ball somewhat, and generate his own scoring opportunities. Although his shooting isn`t a strength and he hasn`t fully adapted to Golden State`s read-and-react system, strategic considerations like spacing and offensive flow often become less critical in a Game 7 winner-take-all scenario. At times, simply putting the most talented players on the court is the priority, and Kuminga is undoubtedly one of the Warriors` most skilled players.
The Rockets appear to have found a successful strategy against the Warriors, utilizing their lineup with two bigs and an effective zone defense. They head into Game 7 confident they`ve optimized their approach with sound tactical choices. The onus is now on Coach Kerr to devise adjustments to counter Houston`s game plan. Regardless of whether Kuminga is part of those adjustments, such strategic shifts could ultimately determine the outcome of this series.
Jasper Hawthorne