18 games through the NBA season, the Golden State Warriors’ second unit was simultaneously aiding and harming Stephen Curry’s case for league MVP. His on-off plus-minus rating proves his importance — +29.5 easily a career-high. But more importantly than that, the bench struggles led to a disappointing 8-10 record.
Now, after a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, there’s optimism that head coach Steve Kerr may have found a productive combination in the non-Curry minutes. While Kerr might be the one orchestrating, it’s Draymond Green putting the idea into effect.
After promising signs against the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green’s presence in non-Stephen Curry minutes again proved fruitful for the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr said that he’d utilize Green in the second unit more after the Rockets win on Sunday, and that’s exactly what he did as the the Warriors finished with a 124-107 win over their pacific rival.
Golden State took a 32-29 lead to the second-quarter, largely thanks to Klay Thompson’s 15 first-quarter points. By the time Curry and Thompson returned, a five-man unit of Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Lamb and Green had extended the lead to seven. Although +4 may not sound substantial, any positive in the non-Curry minutes is incredibly significant.
The splash brothers return signalled a Warriors burst in the decisive move of the game. An elite two-way stretch meant they took a 66-47 lead into halftime, all but sealing the result against an undermanned Clippers outfit.
Foul issues and subsequent trips to the free-throw line threatened a Clippers comeback in the third, but the Warriors still held a 16-point lead with 12 to play. They extended the lead further early in the fourth, with Curry and Thompson coming back for one final stint as Golden State held a 21-point lead.
It may have been against a Paul George and Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers lineup, but this is a deep roster who had the chance to make things difficult for the Warriors. Green’s intensity, both offensively and defensively, gave life to a second unit that’s lacked vigour for most of the season.
Curry played well but the Warriors didn’t need an explosive scoring display from their superstar. All five starters scored at least nine points, led by Wiggins who had a season-high 31 on 12-for-18 shooting including 6-for-10 from three-point range. Curry and Green combined for 21 assists and just four total turnovers in elite playmaking production from the duo.
The Warriors move to a 9-10 record including 8-1 at home, and they’ll be hoping Green’s impact in the non-Curry minutes continues when they host the Utah Jazz on Friday.