Jonathan Kuminga couldn’t assist Steph Curry carry the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Surprisingly, Steve Kerr sidelined the staff’s most explosive and finest scorer off the bench. The 124-119 loss to the LA Clippers dropped the Dubs to the play-in match, the place they may host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Curry had this to say about Kuminga’s benching in his postgame press convention:
“Simply to be prepared. It’s the check of a younger participant on this league and, particularly with our staff. … It wasn’t his time tonight. … Don’t let noise exterior of the locker room. The eye that may come from it, distract you out of your potential to make an impression when your quantity known as.”
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Jonathan Kuminga is averaging 15.3 factors and 4.6 rebounds per recreation, fourth and sixth on the staff in these classes. Towards the LA Clippers, Kerr relied extra on Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney from the non-starters. Even Quinten Put up, who has a floor-spacing recreation, noticed extra minutes than Kuminga.
Steph Curry is hopeful that if Kuminga known as to step in in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies, the ahead might be prepared. Curry additionally famous that DNPs are fairly frequent, notably amongst younger gamers, so it needs to be one thing his teammate would soak up stride.
Exploring attainable motive why Steve Kerr benched Jonathan Kuminga on Sunday in opposition to the LA Clippers
Exterior of Kevon Looney, the three different non-starters who noticed motion on Sunday gave the Golden State Warriors a legit exterior capturing menace. Quinten Put up, Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield have confirmed that they will trigger protection issues with their 3-point capturing.
Jonathan Kuminga has not fared nicely from that distance notably final month (15.8%) and in April (18.8%). Pairing Kuminga with Looney or Draymond Inexperienced permits opponents to clog the paint in opposition to the Dubs. Looney was the higher matchup in opposition to hulking Clippers middle Ivica Zubac, seemingly a key motive Kerr performed him.
Jonathan Kuminga might get minutes within the play-in match in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies, who generally play small. The Grizzlies typically use energy ahead Jaren Jackson Jr. at middle after which encompass him with shooters. Steve Kerr might mirror the technique and use Kuminga within the center for the Dubs.