Warriors’ Boldest Lineup: Dominating with Size Over Sharpshooting

As the Golden State Warriors prepare for the 2024-25 season, they find themselves with an arsenal of depth and versatility. Head coach Steve Kerr has an array of lineup combinations to experiment with, making the path to establishing the team’s identity both exciting and unpredictable. While Stephen Curry and Draymond Green remain the heart of the rotation, the rest of the roster is a puzzle waiting to be solved as training camp approaches.

One thing is clear: Kerr’s approach might need to prioritize something unconventional—size and defensive tenacity over the Warriors’ trademark three-point shooting.

In a recent Bleacher Report piece, Dan Favale floated the idea of an unconventional Warriors lineup that featured Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga. While undeniably intriguing in its offensive firepower, the glaring issue is a lack of size. Even for the Warriors, known for their small-ball prowess, the absence of functional size and rebounding would be too much to overlook.

Sure, Kuminga’s size might mirror that of Draymond Green, who could still start at center, but Kuminga has yet to match Green’s defensive instincts and rebounding prowess. This lineup, while fun to imagine, isn’t practical. What’s more realistic—and potentially lethal—would be a lineup focused on defense-first with enough offensive balance to keep opposing teams on their heels.

 Warriors Must Lean into Defense Over Offense

Despite all the focus on finding offensive help for Curry, the Warriors’ struggles last season stemmed more from their defense. They ranked 15th in defensive efficiency while holding their ground with the 9th-best offense. The addition of defensive-minded players this offseason, combined with the hope that Draymond Green can avoid further suspensions, opens the door for the Warriors to once again become an elite defensive team. Kerr would be wise to lean into this identity, banking on Curry’s scoring prowess to anchor the offense while building a lineup around defense and size.

So, what would be the most realistic, yet still bold, lineup that Kerr could throw on the floor? Enter: Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. This combination sacrifices some of the Warriors’ traditional offensive firepower for a unit that could wreak havoc defensively.

Elite Defense, Functional Offense

With Wiggins locking down the perimeter, Kuminga flying around the floor with his freakish athleticism, and Jackson-Davis patrolling the paint, this lineup could be among the league’s elite on the defensive end. And then there’s Green—one of the best defensive quarterbacks in NBA history—who would pull it all together, orchestrating switches and rotations like a maestro.

Offensively, this group might not light up the scoreboard, but it could still be effective. If Wiggins can shoot at his career-best clip of 37-40% from three, Kuminga takes a leap as a reliable scorer, and Green maintains his unexpected 40% three-point shooting from last season, this lineup could hold its own.

Without a second All-Star alongside Curry, the Warriors may struggle to be a top-five offensive team. But embracing their defensive potential could vault them into the top five on that end of the floor, giving them a unique identity and an edge over opponents. This lineup, focused on size and versatility, could be Kerr’s answer to the Warriors’ most pressing issues.

Boston Showdown Looms Large

As Golden State sharpens its roster and rotations, a brewing rivalry with the Boston Celtics adds extra spice to the season. The teams’ 2022 NBA Finals matchup ignited tensions, and the Warriors’ upcoming visit to Boston on November 6 is sure to fan those flames.

Head coach Steve Kerr is already bracing for a cold reception at TD Garden. His controversial decision to bench Boston’s Jayson Tatum during Team USA’s gold medal run at the Paris Olympics has stirred up Boston fans. Although Kerr praised Tatum’s professionalism throughout the tournament, he knows that Celtics faithful won’t be as forgiving. “I think they’re going to be all over me,” Kerr said, laughing, in a recent interview with Steve Aschburner of NBA.com.

The November matchup holds even more weight after the Warriors suffered a humiliating 44-point deficit at halftime during last season’s blowout loss in Boston. Golden State will be eager to avenge that loss, and Tatum—along with Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who was controversially snubbed from the Team USA roster—will be just as motivated to make a statement.

As the Warriors prepare for the upcoming season, they face not only internal challenges but also external tests from fierce rivals like Boston. In navigating these battles, Kerr’s willingness to embrace size and defense could be the key to unlocking Golden State’s full potential.