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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is changing up his lineup again for Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies. Kerr is sticking with a small lineup, but he's going with Gary Payton II in place of Jordan Poole after Payton closed out the Game 5 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Poole and Kevon Looney will come off the bench:
Gary Payton II is starting, with Kevon Looney remaining on the bench. Jordan Poole will also come off the bench.
Payton will join Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) May 1, 2022
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Kerr started Poole with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins in Game 5, but that new Death Lineup didn't perform all that well in Curry's return to the starting lineup. Poole struggled in particular, managing just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and registering a minus-6 in the box score. Poole also struggled with his shot in Game 4, so he has come back down to earth a bit after his ridiculous start to the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Kerr went to Payton in crunch time, and the move paid off. Payton made a number of clutch plays in the Warriors' 102-98 victory, including hitting a pair of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The guard finished with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 3-of-4 from 3-point range in 26 minutes off the bench.
Kerr is now rewarding Payton with the start in Game 1 in Memphis. With Ja Morant starring for the Grizzlies, Kerr is going with the defensive stopper in Payton against the star point guard. The Warriors know how important it is to slow down Morant at the point of attack:
Steve Kerr on slowing down Ja Morant and Desmond Bane:
“We just have to do our best to limit their open looks and their easy points and see how it goes.”
— Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) May 1, 2022
Don't be surprised if Kerr winds up changing up his lineup again in this series. It should be a fun one.
