Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has a very tough task on his hands as he must prepare contingency plans in case his star forward Jimmy Butler doesn’t return in Game 3. While addressing the Warriors’ plight over Butler’s injury, Kerr spoke about the plans for the team’s rotations.
“Yeah, we’ll see how it all plays out,” said Kerr in response to a question about Kuminga being a natural replacement for Butler. “If Jimmy’s out, we have to rethink everything, like rotations, and who starts, the best combinations, and all that stuff.”
When asked about what changes and implementations can be expected, Kerr responded by saying, “I think it’s too early for me to even talk about that. We have to watch the film and figure out what our plan would be.”
“This is the playoffs,” he added. “It’s an incredibly physical sport. Stuff happens. People get injured, and it’s all part of it.”
“There’s no time to lament anything. You can feel bad for your player, but you have to move on to what’s next.”
Kerr concluded by remaining hopeful for Butler’s return, but he was also clear in stating that there would be contingencies in place should the forward remain unavailable.
Jimmy Butler’s departure from Game 2 saw a drastic shift in performance for the Golden State Warriors. With the team facing a 94-109 loss on the road, the Warriors see the series tied at 1-1 as they head back home for the next set of games.
Butler seemingly suffered a hip injury late in the first quarter after Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson inadvertently collided with him while trying to secure a rebound. The six-time All-Star came down hard on his back and gingerly walked off the court after shooting a pair of free throws, making one in the process.
With the forward out of the game, the Warriors saw a sharp decline in their defensive efficiency. Rockets guard Jalen Green ran circles around the Warriors’ defense and put up 38 points on the night to lead the charge.
Golden State also struggled to keep up with the intensity and physicality of Game 2. With a very poor shooting display from the field, the Warriors could only turn to Stephen Curry, who led the scoring with a team-high 20 points on 6-15 shooting from the field.
An interesting outcome of Butler’s injury was Kerr giving Jonathan Kuminga some burn in this game. In his first game of this year’s postseason, Kuminga played 26 minutes and put up 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
In light of the DNP’s given to Kuminga and his reduced role in the rotation, it was a surprising sight to see the young forward on the court. Unfortunately, the Warriors also happen to be 0-3 in the playoffs when Kuminga plays more than 20 minutes.
Kerr has given Kuminga his flowers for being ready even in unfavorable circumstances. However, should Butler be sidelined for longer than expected, Kuminga will need to step up and be a significant contributor.
With Game 3 taking place on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET at the Chase Center, the Warriors will hope to secure a win to take control of the series again.
