Toscano-Anderson may be what the Warriors’ starting unit needs
There may be no greater indication of which player a coach trusts than who he turns to in a moment of desperation. And desperate were the Warriors entering Sunday, in need of a win after two blowout losses to start the season.
So head coach Steve Kerr decided to start Juan Toscano-Anderson, a 27-year- old who spent most of his career on professional basketball’s fringe and, on Sunday, played in only his 16th NBA game.
But with Draymond Green still unavailable because of a foot injury and forward Eric Paschall failing to make an impact, Toscano-Anderson’s energy, tough defense and knack for making the smart play helped the Warriors earn a muchneeded 129-128 victory over Chicago.
“He’s just one of those guys who understands the game at a really, really deep level,” Kerr said. “So every time he goes in, he’s setting the screen at the right time, he’s making the back cut at the right time, he’s sliding over defensively to help at the exact right time. It is a little bit like Draymond in that his brain is on high alert all the time at both ends of the floor.”
The win was highlighted by Damion Lee’s game-winning shot, but the decision to start Toscano-Anderson ahead of Paschall had a wideranging impact on the team and was a nod to the organization’s confidence in him.
With Toscano-Anderson starting alongside Stephen Curry, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman, Paschall moved into a role off the bench and played like the aggressive rookie from last season who barreled his way to the basket and shot with confidence. He notched 15 points in 19 minutes as Golden State’s bench outscored Chicago’s reserves 54-24.
As the Warriors work to jell, Toscano-Anderson — who on Tuesday signed a two-way contract with the Warriors two days after he was the final cut of training camp — is helping the rotation come together. With the G League’s status in question, he could continue to do so most of the season.
During this 72- game season, two-way players can play up to 50 games and practice without restrictions with their NBA team. For Toscano-Anderson, who grew up in East Oakland and played professionally in Venezuela and Mexico before playing most of the last two seasons for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, this is a significant opportunity.
“I’ve been in this situation for the last few years,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I’m going to take it for what it is. I’m not going to cry about it. My thing is, nobody is coming to save me.”
On Sunday, Toscano-Anderson was handed the responsibility akin to what Green would be asked to do against the Bulls.
He spent time guarding forwards Lauri Markkanen and Patrick Williams and guards Coby White and Zach LaVine — sometimes toggling between them in the same play. In all, he allowed his man to make only 6- of-13 shots while he was defending.
On offense, Toscano-Anderson was a reliable screener for Curry and finished with a modest line of five points on 2- of-3 shooting, five rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes before an elbow to the ribs sidelined him until the game was on the line with five seconds left to play.
On Chicago’s go-ahead possession, LaVine got by Wiggins and Toscano-Anderson came over from the wing to help. He couldn’t stop LaVine’s mid-range jumper, but it’s that sort of heads-up play coaches and teammates notice.
When the final buzzer sounded on Sunday’s win, Toscano-Anderson rushed across the court to hug Lee, who two years ago was his teammate in Santa Cruz and has since carved out an NBA role of his own.