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The Golden State Warriors should start Kevon Looney

By Nathan Beighle

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 01: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after getting called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of the game at Target Center on March 1, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 01: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after getting called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of the game at Target Center on March 1, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) /
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The Warriors‘ ultra-offense lineup has always been one that head coach Steve Kerr has turned to during the game, not to start it. However, the rising stardom of third-year guard Jordan Poole made him think differently.

Poole averaged around 26 points per game over the course of the last month of the season.

The Golden State Warriors started former first-round pick, Kevon Looney, all season long, and they should continue to do so in their second-round series.

He then put up 30 points in the team’s playoff-opening game. It was a tough decision who to send to the bench as two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who was playing with the second unit as he eased off a minutes restriction given to him following a mid-March foot sprain, was set to start.

Kerr, in the series-ending Game 5, opted to start his death lineup, which has seen a plethora of nicknames like “Fast Five.” However, the experiment didn’t quite go as played. Coming into the game, the Warriors’ “Fast Five” had a net rating of 34.4. It is now 21.4.

In the first quarter, center Kevon Looney entered the game with 8:22 left in the first quarter. It was a quick stint for Poole to open the game. When Looney entered, the Warriors were up one point, just 10-9.

It wasn’t the electric start that fans had hoped their best lineup would get out to. This was a new practice for the Warriors’ management as their former death lineup, which featured the Big 3, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant, would have Iggy coming off the bench.

It’ll be interesting if the Dubs quickly subbing in Poole was planned and intended to give Stephen Curry a breather later in the game while keeping playmaking on the court or if Kerr quickly saw that it was easier to rebound and wear down the other team with Looney in the game.

Looney had the best year of his career this past season.

He averaged 21.1 minutes per game, playing in all 82 for the Warriors. Given his injury history, that’s highly impressive. He also brought down 7.3 rebounds per game, 2.5 of which were on the offensive glass.

The 6-foot-9 big man changes the dynamic, and given he’s the tallest and biggest player in the Warriors rotation, he also aids their rebounding. The Dubs were drastically out-rebounded in Game 5.

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Moving forward, Looney may get the call as the death lineup is best serviced after the game has some wear and tear in it. While that’s on Kerr to figure out, it would make sense to switch things back to how they were when the team was most successful.

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