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Warriors small-ball lineups will make or break season

By Nathan Beighle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made a basket and was fouled in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center on February 02, 2021 in San Francisco, 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)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made a basket and was fouled in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center on February 02, 2021 in San Francisco, 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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The Golden State Warriors may be forced to play small-ball lineups for the next several weeks, and it just may work in their favor.

If you’ve followed the Golden State Warriors these last few days, you know the struggle that these next few weeks may hold.

On the back of a 40-point effort from Kelly Oubre Jr., the Dubs put up a season-high 147 points against the Mavericks. It was a fantastic game in which the Warriors absolutely owned the third and fourth quarter.

Oubre Jr. was the main player that killed it for Golden State, but if they don’t get that, they would likely still win. It was their small-ball lineups that they used that killed the Mavericks, a team that almost always had some form of big man on the floor.

While it worked for Golden State against Dallas, it may not be their preferred lineup choice going forward. However, they really don’t have any other option as Kevon Looney, James Wiseman, and Marquese Chriss all appear to be sidelined for at least the next week.

Those three combine for a chunk of the rebounding; thankfully, the Warriors are actually in the bottom five in center rebounds per game.

With Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins as athletic forwards, the Warriors have made things work, and it could make or break their season. In the last two games, the Warriors have been forced to move towards a small-ball lineup often.

Looney was injured in the first half against the Boston Celtics. Since then, the team’s starting lineup of Curry, Green, Wiggins, Oubre, and Juan Toscano-Anderson has been a plus 13.8 in net rating.

The backup lineup of Wanamaker, Lee, Wiggins, Oubre Jr., and Toscano-Anderson has been a plus 23.8. The Warriors have played well, but they lost to the Celtics and defeated a Mavs team that has yet to find their identity this season.

Moving forward, these lineups will be pivotal in how the next few weeks result. With the Warriors at 12-10, they’ll need to either thrive with these lineups consistently or fear sliding outside of playoff contention.

Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history. dark

If I had to put money on it, I’d assume that Curry and Green will continue to figure out how to dominate teams with small-ball lineups.

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