The Golden State Warriors moved to 2-2 on the season with a substandard loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. It came on the back of a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, yet that too left a lingering disappointment thanks to the fourth quarter display from the bench unit.
The Warriors had a 26-point lead with just under three minutes to play in the third, yet the lead was whittled down to four with under a minute remaining in the ball game. Steve Kerr’s hand was forced into bringing back his starters, much to the disappointment of he and everyone in the organization.
The Golden State Warriors have the worst bench in the league, but despite some frustration, it’s no cause for major concern just yet.
The Warriors bench is -11 in plus/minus – easily the worst in the league with only four teams below -5. But put simply, the Warriors rotation is nowhere near settled at present, particularly with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on minutes restrictions. In credit to Kerr, he’s given Golden State’s younger personnel plenty of opportunity, but he’s doing it with them playing largely together.
The second unit of Jordan Poole-Donte DiVincenzo-Jonathan Kuminga-JaMychal Green-James Wiseman is the Warriors third most used lineup, despite the fact it’s an horrific -57.8 in net rating. Kerr recognized that and has replaced Kuminga with Moses Moody, but that five-man group is still a -4 as the Warriors fourth-most used lineup. With DiVincenzo injuring his hamstring against the Kings, opportunity opened up for Ty Jerome.
Steve Kerr called an angry timeout after this transition layup in the fourth quarter.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 24, 2022
"You got a group of reserves out there and those guys should be dying to be on the floor and flying around and playing with huge energy and that was what I was upset about." pic.twitter.com/KSJ8RreuDg
Golden State’s regular rotation would see the younger players dispersed with starting veteran talent which, while it may actually limit their simple box score numbers, would provide them much greater chance to succeed as a unit.
But this is all part of the growing pains with young talented players, and the Warriors are in an ultra-rare position for a contender. It shouldn’t be a major surprise — Kuminga and Wiseman are extremely raw as talented as they are, and Moody’s a 20-year-old late lottery pick in his second season.
Golden State are trying to execute specific team goals for the regular season — ease the veterans through to optimally prepare them for the postseason, and give the young players requisite opportunity to achieve the same purpose. If that means winning five or six less games, and potentially forgoing a top two seed, then they’ll live with it. Granted, the issue comes when the veterans have to play more because the youngsters can’t hold a lead.
A bit of perspective could go along way — we’re four games into the season and nearly six months from the real start point. Poole and Wiseman’s pick-and-roll combination is a genuine positive, with plenty of development to come amid some undoubted up-and-downs.