Steve Kerr has revealed his likely starting lineup for opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Golden State Warriors set to go small with Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green.
That starting lineup has been effective through two preseason games, but there’s a clear weakness in point-of- attack defense that Luka Doncic, and even Austin Reaves, can exploit when the two teams face off in just over a week.
Luka Doncic can exploit Warriors’ lack of perimeter defense
It’s difficult to see a one-on-one matchup for Doncic not only among the starting lineup, but in the entire rotation that Kerr will have available to him. Moses Moody would be the obvious matchup if not for the 24-year-old’s long-term knee injury.
Golden State’s two most noted perimeter defenders, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II, might be reasonable matchups for Reaves, yet Doncic is a completely different proposition where the two Warrior reserves will be giving up significant size against the 6’8” superstar.
The Warriors might have to throw size at Doncic to start the game with Santos or Lendeborg, but that’s significant responsibility to put on either young player and a matchup that Doncic and the Lakers will like.
Would Draymond Green take a turn on Doncic occasionally after proving what he can still do it against the league’s best during last season’s Play-In game against Kawhi Leonard and the L.A Clippers? Perhaps if Kristaps Porzingis was healthy and available, but the veteran center’s expected absence means Green will likely be roaming around closer to the paint.
Warriors have Luka Doncic decision to make on opening night
Golden State simply don’t appear to have any reasonable answers for Doncic in a one-on-one matchup, leaving them with a distinct decision to make that could dictate the direction of the game.
The Warriors need to either play Doncic straight up, let him get his points but make sure his teammates don’t get that involved, or throw doubles at him, force the ball out of his hands and make other far less skilled players beat them in advantage situations.
Either way, the Warriors’ have a major concern that was already evidenced when rookie Darius Acuff Jr. went for 25 points in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Doncic is obviously in a different class and the Slovenian star could be in for an even bigger game than normal in the season opener.
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