The Golden State Warriors suffered a 127-120 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where they were significantly outmatched in the paint. Minnesota's big men, including Julius Randle (27 points), Rudy Gobert (24 points), and Naz Reid (18 points), combined for 69 points, contributing to the Timberwolves' 66-44 advantage in paint scoring. This article critiques Coach Steve Kerr's decision to bench Jonathan Kuminga and limit Gui Santos's playing time despite the Warriors' clear need for more size and interior defense due to Draymond Green and Al Horford's absence.
Kerr's Quote on Kuminga's Benching
Coach Steve Kerr was questioned after the game about Jonathan Kuminga's second consecutive DNP (Did Not Play). Kerr explained the current situation, citing Gui Santos's energetic six-minute stint, which provided the best offensive flow, and Pat Spencer's strong performance. He acknowledged that the situation is fluid and can change quickly, implying that Kuminga's benching was a result of current rotation choices rather than a permanent decision.
Should Kuminga Have Played?
Prior to his benching on Sunday, Jonathan Kuminga's performance in the preceding four games was underwhelming, averaging only 7.8 points on 30% shooting with an even assists-to-turnovers ratio (8 assists, 8 turnovers). This indicates that his initial benching against Chicago was justified. However, the context of the Timberwolves game was different, as the Warriors faced a significant size disadvantage. Given Kuminga's past success against Minnesota in the playoffs and the team's current undersized roster, it is argued that he should have been utilized. The author also suggests that even if the Warriors plan to trade Kuminga on January 15th, they should still play him when the game situation demands it, expressing more confusion about Kerr's specific justification than the benching itself.
If Santos Was So Good, Why Didn't He Play More?
Kerr acknowledged Gui Santos's positive impact in a five-minute stretch during the second quarter, where his energy and ball movement were a highlight for the Warriors' offense. Paired with Quinten Post, Santos contributed to a more resilient defense in the paint during that period. Despite this positive showing, Santos did not return to the game until the fourth quarter, by which point the Timberwolves had already initiated an 11-0 run that effectively sealed the game. During this critical run, the Warriors played a small lineup, with Jimmy Butler (6'6") as power forward against guards Moses Moody (6'5"), Brandin Podziemski (6'4"), and Spencer (6'2") alongside Post. This mismatch was exploited, leading to easy baskets for Minnesota's bigs like Gobert and Reid. Although Santos might not have prevented all points, his presence would have offered more resistance. After a brief return where the Warriors' offense struggled, Santos was benched again for the remainder of the game, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in Kerr's reasoning.
Too Guard-Heavy
The article concludes by emphasizing the Warriors' guard-heavy lineup as a fundamental issue, especially when lacking key forwards like Draymond Green. It argues that while Gui Santos might not be a complete solution, deploying him or Kuminga would be a better strategy than using four-guard lineups or forcing an opponent's star like Jimmy Butler to play extended power forward minutes, potentially wearing him out. By classifying Butler, Santos, and Kuminga as forwards, and Trayce Jackson-Davis and Post as centers, the article highlights the Warriors' disproportionate minute distribution: 48 minutes for centers, 43 for forwards, and 149 for guards. This contrasts sharply with a hypothetical 'normal' roster allocation of 48 minutes for centers, 96 for forwards, and 96 for guards. The author's bottom line is that with Draymond Green sidelined, Coach Kerr must place greater trust in players like Santos and Kuminga to address the team's size deficiencies.
