Looney’s return will impact Warriors’ rotation
ORLANDO, FLA. >> Warriors center Kevon Looney could play as soon as Monday in Atlanta as he nears his return from a neuropathic condition that has sidelined him most of the season.
Looney is the Warriors’ most experienced center and was the opening day starter. While his return will be a welcome addition to a team lacking in institutional knowledge, it will also change a front-court rotation that is the deepest of any
Looney: positional unit on the team.
Willie Cauley-Stein started the past 16 games at center, Omari Spellman and Marquese Chriss have made skilled contributions off the bench, and Draymond Green and Eric Paschall’s versatility have rounded out a five-man platoon.
“... I don't really care if I start, play a lot, get a lot of minutes, I just want to be on the floor and be a part of the team.”
— Marquese Chriss, center.
Here are some ways Looney’s return could shake things up.
LESS LEEWAY FOR CAULEYSTEIN >> Cauley-Stein’s numbers are down across the board from last season, averaging 7.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game.
While his 7-foot frame has provided interference at the rim defensively, he has struggled to guard on the perimeter. Opponents have pounced on this opportunity, forcing switches that lead to mismatches. Conversely, this is
where Looney thrives.
The Warriors have the league’s worst defensive rating in first quarters. Looney has spent most of his career coming off the bench but should Steve Kerr seek to buoy his defense early in the game, he may opt to start Looney over Cauley-Stein.
CHRISS AND SPELLMAN PLAY MORE 4 >> Natural power forwards Chriss and Spellman have been thrust into center minutes but have performed admirably. Chriss’ passing instincts (2.3 assists per game) and Spellman’s long-range shooting (37.5% on 3-pointers) have helped open up the offense.
With Looney back, Chriss and Spellman will have to play more 4. Mostly Spellman who, to prepare, has already lost weight after hovering around 260 pounds for most of the season. He’s down to his best playing shape since he was in college at Villanova.
Offensively, they have the skillsets to make it work.
“I think our rotation suits us, and I don’t really care if I start, play a lot, get a lot of minutes, I just want to be on the floor and be a part of the team,” Chriss said. “But I think when we’ve been playing with Omari at the 4 it’s been a lot of fun.
“Omari spaces the floor and makes it easy for me to get some rebounds, and he’s also athletic as hell so he comes in and rebounds with me. We just play off each other. It’s been fun. Even on the defensive end, I go up to contest a shot, he comes over my shoulder and blocks it and vice versa.”
Defensively, they could be a liability early on — something Kerr anticipates — but this is the season for them to develop. Both Spellman and Chriss have been studying film with Green as they continue to develop on the defensive end.
MORE POINT DRAYMOND >> If Looney returns on Monday, it will give the Warriors 10 healthy players, more than half of whom play in the front court. That could make it tough to find minutes and balance rotations.
For that reason, expect to see more of Green at point guard. Kerr has already turned to this set up in the wake of D’Angelo Russell’s thumb injury to stabilize the offense. By staggering
“I don't think we need to play him big heavy minutes in a season like this where we're obviously playing for the future.”
— Steve Kerr, Warriors coach, on Draymond Green.
Green with backup point guard Ky Bowman, it takes one players minutes out of the front-court equation. Green’s minutes restriction and occasional load management will also be a factor.
Looney, Cauley-Stein and Chriss will rotate at center with Spellman and Paschall mixing in at power forward. Kerr will still have the flexibility to tinker with different combinations of skills and size.
With each of these players potentially factoring into the Warriors’ rotation next season, finding out what works and what doesn’t will be Kerr’s priority, especially when projecting how they will fit alongside a healthy Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
• Russell is making progress after missing the last seven games with a right thumb injury and could return next week. Russell, who is traveling with the team during their five-game trip, will not play Sunday in Orlando or Monday in Atlanta, but he hasn’t yet been ruled out for games in Charlotte or Chicago.
Guard Jacob Evans, sidelined the past 17 games with a strained left adductor, will miss the next two games but is expected to play before the team heads back to the Bay Area. Evans has been participating in full practices on the road.
• The Warriors have put Green on a minutes restriction since his return from a right heel injury, Kerr said. After playing only 19 minutes in Friday’s blowout loss to the Miami Heat, Green will continue to see his availability monitored. The Warriors have been cautious with Green’s minutes all season.
“We’ve purposely kept him under 24 minutes per game. When the game got out of hand I took him out, but if the game was more competitive we would’ve left him in late,” Kerr said. “I don’t think we need to play him big heavy minutes in a season like this where we’re obviously playing for the future.
“But he needs to be on the floor to help guide these young players. We have to find a balance for him to make an impact on this team but not wear him down at the same time.”