{"id":6293,"date":"2024-11-05T08:23:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T08:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=6293"},"modified":"2024-11-05T08:23:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T08:23:26","slug":"gary-payton-iis-surprise-start-for-jonathan-kuminga-is-proof-of-warriors-concept","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=6293","title":{"rendered":"Gary Payton II’s surprise start for Jonathan Kuminga is proof of Warriors’ concept.."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Warriors took care of business against the Wizards with a new starting lineup, one that left Jonathan Kuminga on the bench.<\/p>\n

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The Golden State Warriors entered Saturday’s action leading the NBA by averaging a whopping 61 bench points per game. Though they fell one point shy of that mind-blowing number while beating the Washington Wizards\u00a0125-112, don’t be surprised if the Dubs’ reserves are even more productive going forward given\u00a0Jonathan Kuminga’s new role.<\/p>\n

Despite\u00a0Stephen Curry\u00a0returning to the lineup after missing the last three games with a sprained left ankle,\u00a0Kuminga once again found himself\u00a0on the bench for tipoff in the nation’s capital.\u00a0Gary Payton II\u00a0replaced Kuminga alongside the Warriors’ four cemented starters of Curry, Andrew Wiggins,\u00a0Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis against the Wizards.<\/p>\n

Though he ended up playing just 16 minutes and didn’t even start the second half as Kerr toggled the rotation, Payton’s surprise insertion as a starter was nevertheless proof of concept of what it will take for the Warriors to make good on their stellar start to the regular season.<\/p>\n

Why little things loom so large for Gary Payton II, Warriors<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Rob Gray-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first possession of Monday’s game immediately revealed why it seemed odd\u2014on the surface, at least\u2014for the Warriors to replace Kuminga in their season-long starting five with Payton. Kerr has fondly referred to Payton as a \u201c6’2 power forward\u201d for years, alluding to the veteran’s keen ability to finish, defend, screen and rebound like a player who typically stands at least half a foot taller.<\/p>\n

But that unique positional designation also points to the lack of perimeter skills that pretty much every other player across the league of Payton’s size possesses. Watch Jordan Poole abandon him in the strong-side corner as Green catches at the elbow, leaving Payton all by himself before the ball gets back to Curry for a splash.<\/p>\n