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Golden State Warriors: The Dubs should try out Kevin Durant at center

By Nathan Beighle

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 24: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors stands on the floor with Kevin Durant #35 during their game against the Washington Wizards at ORACLE Arena on October 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 24: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors stands on the floor with Kevin Durant #35 during their game against the Washington Wizards at ORACLE Arena on October 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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It’s a long shot of a proposition, but the Golden State Warriors should create a death lineup without Draymond Green.

If teams are going to play ten feet of Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors must counter with a death lineup that wishes Green was on the court. That lineup would feature Kevin Durant at center.

Last season, Durant totaled a career-high 14% of his minutes at center. This season, that’s been cut in half to just 7%. However, these two seasons are the only years Durant has been asked to play the five.

Durant at the five alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and either Jonas Jerebko or Quinn Cook could pose an interesting and potentially successful five-man lineup.

The Warriors BEST five-man lineup that has seen at least ten minutes features Kevin Durant at the small forward and Jordan Bell at the five along with Curry, Livingston and Jerebko. However, if you swap Bell out for that Iguodala-esque player, then Durant slides down to the five.

Notice that neither Green or Thompson are in this lineup. Green just has struggled to produce given his inability to shoot. He’s not being guarded, and still shooting less than 25% on wide-open threes. For Klay, he’s also been in one of his longest and most devastating slumps.

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While any true death lineup would feature Klay, the Dubs should, with ease, be able to leave Green on the bench to test it out. Jerebko, Durant and Iggy would have to rebound at a high clip though.

This lineup, if they can rebound efficiently, would spread the opposing defense out all the way to the three-point line. Durant and Curry would then get the isolation plays and defensive openings it takes to score at a superstar level.

Durant is listed at 6-foot-9 yet has a lengthy 7-foot-5 wingspan, longer than both LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Rebounding shouldn’t be an issue, and offensively, a player like Iggy would replace Green as the offensive distributor.

Durant being asked to move to center would be a direct result of the organization lacking the trust to win with Green playing bulk minutes. After the last few months, a move like that shouldn’t shock fans or analysts. Even their center, Kevon Looney, hasn’t played well.

Jordan Bell and Jonas Jerebko need to step up and stabilize the second unit because clearly, the starting frontcourt excluding Durant isn’t getting it done. Durant and a few skilled offensive players should be enough to make any opponent shift their strategy and go even smaller.

Next. Report: Knicks favorite to land Kevin Durant. dark

Durant playing more five within the game, obviously not at the start, is something to keep an eye on and could be a good move from Kerr and his staff.

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