Barring an unforeseen chain of events, the Golden State Warriors will enter the postseason with an All-Star-laden starting lineup on the court. Head coach Steve Kerr and the medical staff will ensure that happens, if the circumstances are under their control — and they have already picked up on their usual late-season strategy of staggering rest for their players, as Stephen Curry sat out for Saturday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks while DeMarcus Cousins took a seat for Sunday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
Yet the questions of how Kerr will handle the bench unit for a top-heavy team, and we will answer them one-by-one in this segment.
The Starters:
Kerr is likely to keep his usual rotation by playing Stephen Curry nearly the entire first and third quarters, while resting him during the early part of the second and fourth quarters, allowing him to finish halves with fresh legs. Depending on the score and the matchup, Curry's minutes might start to pick up, and he could come in with seven or eight minutes remaining, if the game is close.
Klay Thompson will continue to be the sniper of the second unit, as well as the secondary ball-handler is Kevin Durant is being hounded in the strong side of the court, allowing for the occasional backdoor cut.
Durant will have the ball in his hands the majority of the time, barring double-teams and likely look to unleash a mid-range barrage, as his 3-point shooting hasn't been up to par this season.
Draymond Green's role as the primary facilitator will remain the same, but he's expected to now take and make his open looks, as defenses will converge on the remaining four All-Stars. His conviction to attack the basket instead of driving to pass is a must if the Warriors are to make him an offensive threat at all, after averaging a mere 7.1 points per game — the lowest scoring output since his second season in the league.
For what it's worth, he's mustered double-digit scoring games in three of his last five games — though the grim side of it is that he's only had 14 performances of this kind in the whole season, never scoring more than 18 points in any of his 58 appearances.
DeMarcus Cousins has topped the 30-minute mark only three times this season. It's now likely he will de deployed for 30-plus on a nightly basis after showing he's able to handle the load at both ends of the floor.
The Bench:
This is a rather tricky bit to gauge, given Kerr's propensity to play the matchup game according to the opponent. But if the playoffs started today, this is how the second unit would line out.
6. Andre Iguodala
Strength: The trusty sixth man doesn't possess the lateral movement and chasedown ability he once had, but he has proved healthier this season than in the past, while still at stalwart defensively and a heady playmaker on offense.
Weakness: Iguodala is still only a 33.6 percent 3-point shooter, despite most of his looks being wide-open threes. That is his second-worst mark with the Warriors, but still not as ghastly as the 28.2 percent he hit last season.
7. Kevon Looney
Strength: An energy-infusing big man with strong finishing ability and a nose for rebounding the ball. Looney is familiar with the system and knows his role well — get stops and finish plays.
Weakness: Looney can get overpowered by back-to-the-basket centers and be easily lured into guarding perimeter players through high-screen switches. Fortunately he's an above-average perimeter defender that won't commit many fouls.
8. Quinn Cook
Strength: Cook has leapfrogged into this spot by means of his shot-making from the guard position. The Duke product is shooting only 36.9 percent from the season, but the need in the second unit is dire and his intrinsic connection with Durant helps as well.
Weakness: A below-average defender, Cook will get exposed if drawn into a one-on-one matchup due to his size and lack of lateral foot speed. Luckily Kerr has devised a rotation that can mostly hide him in the corner on defense and offense.
9. Alfonzo McKinnie
Strength: McKinnie won this place over Jonas Jerebko due to his strong shooting in March, canning 43.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. The guard/forward hybrid shot nearly 50 percent from deep during his first month with the team, but faded ever since, thanks to an inconsistent role under Kerr. Yet his ability to crash the glass and defend the wing position have made him a better pick than Jerebko.
Weakness: The Green Bay product will need to make his minutes count and be aggressive with them, fading into the background can't be an option if he hopes to be part of this rotation.
10. Shaun Livingston
Strength: A smart veteran with enough athleticism to make plays, Livingston can still be valuable for Kerr as a taller perimeter defender and an experienced floor general.
Weakness: Once a trusty direct backup to Stephen Curry, Livingston has been reduced to a third-stringer due to his inability to shoot threes, making him a one-dimensional guard and a well-scouted mid-range maestro, not nearly as effective as he was in his heyday with this roster.
11. Andrew Bogut
Strength: Bogut's rim protection and his savvy offensive mind can help the Warriors in multiple facets. From bruising screens to free up shooters to being a 7-foot Goliath patrolling the paint, the Aussie can still contribute, but make no mistake, he still is a third stringer that will be called upon based on matchups and to prevent Cousins' foul trouble throughout a game.
Weakness: As a non-shooter, Bogut's offensive contributions are limited to floaters and shots up close to the basket. A career 55.7 percent free-throw shooter, he's best kept away from the foul line in crucial situations.
12. Jonas Jerebko
Strength: This spot can be interchanged with McKinnie according to the matchup at hand. Jerebko; much like McKinnie, has proved he can space the floor with his 3-point shot, but he's been limited due to the swift changes in his playing time from one game to another.
Weakness: A below-average defender, only 15 blocks to his name in 65 appearances this season. His lateral movement lacks, making him an easy target on the perimeter.
The Tail End:
Kerr and the coaching staff are unlikely to go beyond 12 men in any game this postseason, as the coach previously hinted at crunching the spots for viable minutes in the postseason.
Players like Jordan Bell and Damion Lee will only get a chance to play if there is an injury or abhorrent foul trouble plaguing the Warriors, while rookies Marcus Derrickson and Jacob Evans will be largely listed as inactive, as they have been throughout most of this season.
Balancing a strong bench play with some top-heavy assets in the starting lineup will prove Steve Kerr's key to victory or the start of his demise — as this is yet to be the most challenging moment of his coaching career, pursuing a three-peat as the head coach, just as he once did as a player.
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