The Warriors were forced into a starting lineup tweak in Game 2 vs. the Lakers, when Kevon Looney’s illness led to JaMychal Green being moved into the starting five. The result couldn’t have been more of a happy accident, with Green scoring 15 points in 13 minutes and hitting three 3 pointers.
With Looney back to feeling like himself according to head coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors again put JaMychal Green in the starting lineup in Game 3, and it was night and day. Los Angeles continued to leave him wide open, and he couldn’t connect on uncontested 3s. Green was -10 in 11 minutes and went 1-for-5, scoring just two points. The Warriors were blown out by 30, and now enter Game 4 down 2-1.
So what should Golden State do lineup-wise on Monday? NBA broadcaster Stan Van Gundy believes they should revert back to the Looney lineup, especially because he believes it was effective despite the Game 1 loss.
“The thing that gets me is I didn’t think the Warriors had a problem offensively in Game 1,” Van Gundy said on KNBR Monday. “That’s why personally, I’d go back to the Looney lineup.
“The problem was at the other end, they got dominated in the paint and at the free throw line. They gave up 54 points in the paint, and had a 29-6 free throw attempt differential. The problem was on the defensive end, not the offensive end.”
When Anthony Davis has been engaged, the Warriors have been dominated defensively no matter who they have down low. In Game 1 they didn’t shoot all that well as a team, just 40 percent from the field. Throughout the season, however, the starting lineup with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Looney has been the best in the NBA.
“If I were the Warriors, I’d be playing Looney and Draymond together,” Van Gundy said. “It’s been your best lineup all year. Hell, it’s been the best lineup in the NBA all year. I’m down 2-1 on the road, I’m going to my best.”
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