Looking at the overall picture, the Golden State Warriors have done a marvelous job in turning what was supposed to be a wasted season into a postseason appearance. Jimmy Butler takes a huge chunk of the credit, with his presence being the primary reason for the team’s incredible run in the second half of the season.
It seemed like the Warriors were on their way to complete an incredible upset against the third-seed Houston Rockets. However, the team suddenly saw their 3-1 advantage shrink as Houston managed to claw their way back and force a Game 7 in Houston.
There are multiple reasons behind the team’s struggles, but it’s clear that the Warriors need to change something in their game plan if they want to make the next round.
Defensive adjustments will surely be made, but Steve Kerr may be open to making a change that will surprise Warriors fans.
Steve Kerr is open to giving Jonathan Kuminga more time ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ Game 7 contest vs. Houston
Steve Kerr recently revealed—as reported by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater—that he’s open to giving Jonathan Kuminga more minutes in the all-important Game 7 against the Houston Rockets. Given how the series has gone for the Warriors, putting Kuminga in is a good option for them.
Kuminga’s stats during the two games he played for the Warriors show his viability as an option. He finished with 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 37% FG and 40% 3FG.
While he isn’t the most efficient player on the Warriors’ bench, Heavy Sports’ Keith Watkins explained that Kuminga’s frame should bring some energy in a Warriors roster that has stuck with small-ball lineups for much of the series:
He hasn’t been a consistent part of the rotation since Kerr leaned into smaller lineups late in the regular season, and he’s been benched entirely in Games 5 and 6. But he might be exactly the kind of high-energy disruptor this series suddenly demands.
In a Game 7 on the road, sometimes it’s not about experience—it’s about fresh legs, hunger, and chaos.
If the Warriors can knock the Rockets out in seven games thanks to Kuminga, his value in Golden State and elsewhere should skyrocket. For a player who had to deal with persistent trade rumors throughout the season, Game 7 might be his final chance to make an impact for the Warriors in his career.
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