Golden State’s latest lineup experiments indicate the club is most effective when Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are not on the court at the same time, according to figures cited by The San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Gordon.
Since the Warriors’ last small-ball opening lineup on December 2, units featuring both veterans have registered a minus-24.2 net rating across 51 combined minutes. Gordon’s breakdown points to lineups that surround Butler with shooters and secondary ball-handlers—rather than pairing him with another non-scoring forward—as the most productive.
Coaching Staff Still Tweaking Rotations
Stephen Curry said head coach Steve Kerr will keep mixing combinations until the right balance is found. “Me, Jimmy and Draymond can play together because we know each other so well. But the other two spots matter,” Curry told reporters, adding that Butler paired with spacing “is kind of reflective of when he was at his best in Miami.”
Green Feeling the Physical Strain
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported on NBA Today that Green has grown frustrated with the nightly assignment of guarding centers who outweigh him by 40 to 50 pounds. The Warriors signed veteran big man Al Horford in free agency to lighten that workload, but injuries have limited Horford to 13 appearances, pushing Green back into heavier front-court duties.
Adjusting to a New Reality
While Green’s recent ejection and sideline exchange with Kerr drew headlines, Nick Friedell of The Athletic wrote that the more pressing concern is the forward’s on-court decline. Friedell argued that Golden State must lean on Green’s defensive instincts and communication skills without asking him to anchor every lineup or matchup.
The Warriors (record) continue their search for optimal rotations as they navigate a crowded Western Conference race.
Source: Hoops Wire
