A few days ago, Stephen Curry & Co. looked unstoppable with a 12-3 run, clinching the West’s top spot. Many hoop analysts raved about Coach Steve Kerr’s bold approach to utilize an extravagant 13-man rotation. However, everyone has started to question the strategy after the Dubs lost 4 games in a row. Quite reasonable! However, Steph stands by and drops a message to his teammates, as the team heads into a phase where changes are inevitable.

“When you’re winning, it’s fun. When you’re not, questions pop up,” said Steve Kerr, responding to the pricking questions regarding his rotational plan at the post-game presser. However, the 9x NBA Champ didn’t seem to lose his composure and looked confident about his plan. Kerr instead, said, “Phoenix was our biggest problem… We didn’t play a bad game,” highlighting the Valley side’s ball movement and perimeter.

So, the bottom line is that even though Kerr expressed his plans to rework the player combinations and minutes, the star coach doesn’t seem to be backing down from his “unique” rotational policy. Speaking of which, Stephen Curry promisingly said, “We are a unique team. It’s a unique situation. I don’t think that’s been done in the league.” Above all, speaking of the players, who are serving lesser minutes on the floor, like Moses Moody and Kyle Anderson, Steph dropped an important message. 

The 4x NBA Champ said, “It’s just hard for everybody. So, the coaches’ job is again to make those tough decisions, you have to help them. If you’re not playing, don’t pout, don’t bring the locker room down. It doesn’t help anybody, including yourself, and hopefully, we turn this ship around. Everybody’s happy again.” Moreover, Steph specifically mentioned Moody and Anderson, as they played only 3 and 7 minutes, respectively. Above all, the superstar sympathizes with his teammates and gives stern advice. 

Stephen Curry walks in his teammates’ shoes

Moses Moody has had a tough run compared to Jonathan Kuminga. The duo came into the Warriors fold in the 2021-22 season. While the Congolese player made it out of the bench and improved his playing minutes, Moses still hasn’t got his big break playing under 16 minutes a game. On top of it, he has extended a three-year stay with the team.

Notably, within those fewer minutes on the floor, he managed to churn out his best. In the recent game against the Nets, he dropped 15 points in just 8 minutes and Kerr didn’t bother to play him at the latter end of the game. The Warriors lost to the Brooklyn side that night with a 120-128 result.

Speaking of Moody and several other players with limited minutes, Curry said, “Every player wants to play more minutes, including myself. I think I can. I know I can. Trying to figure out a way to take advantage of the minutes that you’re out there.” And, he also delivered strict guidance, saying, “(It’s) not about how many minutes I’m playing. It’s how you get everybody in unison… No matter what the combinations are. So, if that means you play more minutes, then do it.” Nevertheless, Steph’s words may or may not motivate his teammates to exhibit their best on the floor, but the Warriors have a set of changes that have to be made, inevitably.

What are the changes that the Warriors can’t escape?

There are so many questions that pop up during a Warriors game regarding Steph’s minutes, Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski’s roles, and plenty of other stuff. While the team evaded it for a while, now it’s time that they have a look at it. Let’s briefly look at some of the inevitable changes.

• Brandin Podziemski, the sophomore star, who had a promising rookie season, didn’t quite have a notable run this season, with a poor shooting percentage of 37.8. However, Coach Kerr still seemed to trust him, as he said, “We wanted to get Brandin with that first group. We feel like he is best suited to be a secondary ballhandler playing off Steph and Draymond because he’s great at attacking closeouts. I like how he looked out there tonight.” Looking at the way things are proceeding, Kerr may have to reconsider his initial starting lineup with Jonathan Kuminga in the small forward, thereby increasing the size of the floor. Given that Kuminga has had some good looks from the perimeter, he can increase the space, as well.
• The 13-man rotation seemed like a master plan initially, but now, it has irked doubts. Coach Kerr spoke about how his staff is closely working on the particular combinations that will work and test it out in the coming games. The current mix-up hasn’t worked well. So, a change in rotation and combinations in the upcoming games is inevitable. Maybe we can even see more of Moses Moody!

• Most importantly, Stephen Curry’s minutes have considerably gone down this season. While his career average is around 35 minutes per game, the all-new rotational policy has brought it down to 29.9 minutes this season. This is something that Kerr may have to look closely at, given the damage that Curry can do just with pick and role, especially, in the last quarter.
• The big men issue. This season, Trayce Jackson-Davis received the spot in the starting lineup ahead of Kevon Looney. While the sophomore made a notable impact, it wasn’t the same compared to his previous season. Meanwhile, Looney seemed to have improved on his offensive bag this season and improved his shot attempts per game despite playing fewer minutes. So, we might see him in the starting lineup.
• Last but not least, we might come across a trade ahead of the deadline. And, it could be a big trade. The team might even send out Brandin Podziemski or Jonathan Kuminga.

What do you make of the predictions we have made following the Warriors’ four-game losing streak? Did we miss out on anything? If yes, let us know in the comments below.