SAN FRACNCSCO – Red-hot Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green rightfully get most of the plaudits for the Warriors’ 21-5 record and climb up the Western Conference standings since trading for Butler in early February.
But supporting the star trio has been a triumvirate of bouncy wings who have embraced a more limited – but crucial – role during Golden State’s five-game winning streak during the playoff push.
Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II and Gui Santos have differing skillsets, but each has contributed in a unique way while playing the high-energy wing role off the bench.
The Warriors coach has repeatedly credited Butler for “clarifying” players roles, but has praised the trio’s willingness to buy into a role that changes depending on the night.
“It’s going to be different night to night, and the only way it works is if everybody embraces it, and that’s what’s happening.” Kerr said before Sunday’s game against the No. 2 seed Rockets.
The Warriors (46-31) entered Sunday as the fifth seed but only a half-game ahead of the eighth-seeded Grizzlies (46-32), a team that Golden State owns the tiebreaker over.
Payton is the team’s top defensive guard, and is back to full strength after missing four recent games with a left thumb injury.
Most of his value comes from defense, but Payton is also shooting 64.3% from the field since the trade, and also greases the wheels of the Warriors attack with his passing, even if his assist numbers hover around one per game.
“If you look at Gary’s play over the last month, six weeks, he’s been in really top form,” Kerr said. “He’s one of our top ball-movers. He just catches it and swings it.”
Jonathan Kuminga has played in 11 games, averaging 12.9 points in appearances off the bench since returning from an ankle injury. He has generally played over 20 minutes in each game, including a 18-point, nine-rebound game in Los Angeles.
Kuminga then played 18 minutes against Denver, guarding both Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon as a de-facto center.
Last but not least is Gui Santos, a 6-foot-7 sparkplug whose defense and energy has been so impactful that Steph Curry implored Kerr to put the Brazilian back into Friday’s victory over Denver.
He’s made a massive impact on the offensive glass, where he steals possessions back for the Warriors by grabbing boards most other players could not. Despite playing just 15 minutes a night since the trade, Santos has pulled down 40 offensive rebounds, the third-most on the team during that timeframe.
How does the second-year forward do it?
“IQ, and understanding of his role,” Kerr said, pointing to his temple. “A role player who plays with energy and figures out how to serve others. That’s what he does, and that’s why he’s been so good.”
With the Warriors clean bill of health – at least on the injury report – finding minutes has been difficult at times.
But as Kerr mentioned on Sunday, having an abundance of options with just five games to go in the regular season is not a bad problem to have.
“Hopefully it stays that way,” Kerr said. “You know, you knock on wood, but it helps everything in this league at this time of year.”
Originally Published:
Source: Paradise Post
