The Warriors should start Matt Barnes

Mar 11, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors small forward Matt Barnes (22) reacts after a shot during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors small forward Matt Barnes (22) reacts after a shot during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Golden State Warriors are starting Patrick McCaw in Kevin Durant’s absence. Perhaps they should look to Matt Barnes instead.

There’s no replacing Kevin Durant. Outside of landing LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard, there isn’t a small forward that can really do what he does. Even then, there are things Durant can do that those guys can’t.

So when the Golden State Warriors’ big offseason acquisition went down with a knee injury, it left a huge hole on the team. The starting lineup still featured two All-Stars in Draymond Green and Klay Thompson and an MVP in Stephen Curry, but the team still needs some kind of production for the small forward spot. So questions about who would take that spot arose.

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The Warriors originally planned to sign José Calderón after letting Brianté Weber go. Durant’s decision led them to act fast and come to a deal with veteran forward Matt Barnes instead. They brought him back to the Bay Area.

Barnes, 36, started his second game with the Golden State Warriors. He was +2 in 18 minutes in a win over the New York Knicks. He’s only started one other game–the San Antonio Spurs matchup in which everyone rested.

Steve Kerr has opted to go with Patrick McCaw instead. The rookie is a good defender with quick hands. He’s shown that he has a solid feel for the game, something that just can’t be taught.

There are benefits to starting McCaw. Playing him alongside three stars could make the game come easier for him. His responsibility is lowered and he has learning opportunities.

The Warriors should consider starting Barnes though. McCaw has been struggling lately so perhaps bringing him off the bench against other reserves could help him get going. Barnes, on the other hand, is doing a lot of things well.

McCaw is probably dealing with fatigue. He’s a rookie and Golden State just went through a very daunting stretch. In a huge opportunity, McCaw scored just 2 points in 41 minutes against the shorthanded Spurs.

Barnes had 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers. He also added 1 block and 1 steal. While he made some poor decisions down the stretch, he was on the floor when Golden State finished its comeback.

If McCaw were to return to the bench, he could backup Klay Thompson and get minutes at the shooting guard position. Right now, there are times when he can get bullied by small forwards that are just too big and too strong for the lanky wing. He’s also a better shooter than Barnes that could help space the floor with a second unit.

Barnes could help stop the bleeding on Golden State’s early defensive struggles. They’ve been getting off to slow starts on that end of the floor and his size and toughness could help rectify that. He can handle bigger players than McCaw can. Barnes has also been entrusted by being the fifth member of the Warriors’ altered Death Lineup.

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When Durant returns, he’ll take his spot back. Until then, Kerr is going to continue to experiment. In a title-or-bust season with the top seed on the line, perhaps turning to a rookie isn’t the best option.

Kerr likes to experiment with lineups and rotations. He does this to a fault. His next move should be to insert Matt Barnes into the starting lineup and let McCaw grow with the second unit.