The Golden State Warriors remain in position to secure a playoff berth in the final two games of the regular season, having surged up the Western Conference standings with a sustained run of excellent form since acquiring Jimmy Butler in early February.
The Warriors are 22-6 with Butler in the lineup, and are an incredible 15-2 since solidifying a starting lineup that also features youngsters Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. Steve Kerr has leant further into small-ball lineups with Draymond Green at center, yet a big question remains on how effective that can remain heading into the postseason.
Kevon Looney could see more minutes for the Warriors in the postseason
Steve Kerr still has options at the five, having utilized both veteran Kevon Looney and impressive rookie Quinten Post as centers off the bench. In a potential trend that could continue into the postseason, Looney in particular has seen an increase in his minutes over recent games.
The 3x champion has averaged 16.6 minutes across the last four -- up from 10.1 minutes in the previous 10 games. This could represent an obvious shift that sees Kerr going bigger in the postseason, with the reliable Looney providing more size and presence for Golden State on the interior.
In a recent interview with ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps, one anonymous Eastern Conference executive questioned whether the Warriors can make a deep playoff run with Green playing heavy center minutes.
"I don't know if this way they're playing, so small, works. I'll be impressed if they can run the table this way," the executive said. "To ask Draymond at his age to (play more at center) is a lot. I won't be surprised if they go back to Looney more."
The idea of shifting Green into more of his traditional power-forward role, and providing Looney with more minutes, is going to come down to direct matchups and who Golden State see in the playoffs should they clinch their spot.
A team like the Los Angeles Lakers -- after stunningly trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic -- aren't blessed with talented big men, leaving it more possible for Kerr to go smaller and play Green at center for significant portions of the series.
However, if the Warriors face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, or Alperun Sengun and the Houston Rockets, Looney would undoubtedly be called upon more as a traditional matchup with extensive experience.
As always, Kerr is going to have to find a balance between Looney's defensive capabilities, and his limitations as an offensive player with little scoring threat. Needless to say the 29-year-old will be ready if called upon, having been a big factor in a number of playoff series for the Warriors in the past.