Golden State Warriors: Steve Kerr faces precarious starting lineup decision for Game 3

Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr made a bold lineup decision in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers, giving veteran big JaMychal Green the start for just the second time all season.

Kerr’s hand was forced a little with news that traditional starting center Kevon Looney was unwell on Thursday, but there’s no doubt that there was also a basketball decision behind Green’s surprising start.

Do the Golden State Warriors build on the starting lineup that delivered a Game 2 victory, or do they revert to their most trusted combination?

If Looney is back towards 100% healthy, then is his rebounding and defense an automatic inclusion back into the starting lineup? The answer is no, leaving a Looney v Green decision few thought coming.

The 27-year-old has recorded 20+ rebounds in four of his nine playoff games so far, but the Lakers’ defensive tactics could see his role diminished the further this series goes along. If we’ve learnt anything over the first two games at Chase Center, it’s that both teams are happy to pay no attention to non-perimeter threats.

Enter Green, the 32-year-old who Kerr has dusted off the shelf and brought back into the fold seemingly out of nowhere. The Warriors have been desperately trying to find that four-five option that can help them space the floor, and Green might be stepping up to the plate on the basis of the first two games.

He is currently 5-for-10 (50%) from three-point range over the pair of home games, including 3-for-6 after his shock start in Game 2. Green’s inclusion is all about making Anthony Davis more accountable, and less of a defensive presence overall after a dominant 23-rebound and four-block display in Game 1.

With Looney and Draymond Green on the floor together, Davis is much more likely just to roam the paint and deter anything at the rim without consequence. With JaMychal Green on the floor, Golden State become more resistant to that strategy should he be knocking down his shots. The other aspect to Green is that he’s a more explosive finisher around the rim, often allowing him to rise for standing dunks where Looney would otherwise have to finish over a defender.

Kerr now faces the decision of whether to retain Green in the starting lineup as the Warriors head to the hostile environment of Crypto.com Arena. It’s all well and good for role players to perform at home, but taking that on the road in a playoff atmosphere is a whole different conversation.

Looney is a proven playoff performer who just delivered for Golden State in a Game 7 in Sacramento, making the debate a tough one for Kerr to reckon with as the Warriors seek to go up 2-1 in Game 3.