The Golden State Warriors are off to a dominant 4-1 start. With two of those wins coming without Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, head coach Steve Kerr has had the opportunity to showcase the Warriors’ depth.
Given the surprisingly successful start, here are five takeaways from Golden State’s first five games.
Lindy Waters III should be a rotation piece
With injuries to Curry and Wiggins on Oct. 29, Waters III seized his opportunity, giving Kerr more tough decisions to make with the rotation. That night, Waters III provided the Warriors with much-needed spacing and effort, chipping in 21 points and eight rebounds. Overall, the fourth-year guard has excelled in limited minutes, shooting 47.1% from distance despite only having spot opportunities to build rhythm. In a postgame news conference on Oct. 29, Kerr praised Waters III, stating, “From day one of camp, this guy has been one of our best players, frankly.”
Jonathan Kuminga is an awkward fit
This was exemplified by Kerr’s choice to bench the fourth-year forward in back-to-back games against the New Orleans Pelicans. Kerr explained that he “wanted a little more spacing” and it was “just about combinations.” The decision was a sound one, but the absence of a contract extension and growing trade rumors surrounding Jonathan Kuminga indicate the Warriors’ stance on the No. 7 overall pick of the 2021 draft.
Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse’s impact
Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse have injected new life into Golden State. Stotts integrating his sets into the Warriors offense adds a dimension of unpredictability for what had become a stagnant Warriors offense, and Stackhouse has “brought a level of accountability we haven’t had over the last couple years” on the defensive end, according to forward Draymond Green.
The numbers support both the eye test and Green’s sentiments, as Golden State currently holds a top-two defensive rating and a top-four offensive rating.
