Warriors playoffs: Jonathan Kuminga is poised to take over

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Warriors playoffs: Jonathan Kuminga is poised to take over

#Warriors playoffs: Jonathan Kuminga is poised to take over| 来源: 网络整理| 查看: 265

The Warriors carry many advantages into this postseason, but none is more significant — or arguably more powerful — than experience.

The Dubs’ core players — Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson — have combined to play 433 playoff games going into Saturday’s first-round Game 1 with the Kings in Sacramento.

They’ve raised some banners. They’ve fallen behind in series. They’ve even lost two NBA Finals. Good and bad (but mostly good), they’ve seen some stuff over the last decade.

“I feel a totally different energy now that the regular season is over,” Green said Thursday. “The focus level in the playoffs is totally different. The preparation is totally different.

“You lean into the know-how. You know what to do.”

And while the Warriors come into this postseason as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference — it’s the first time the Dubs have finished lower than the No. 3 seed since Steve Kerr took over the team in 2014-15 — in some ways, this team is better equipped for this season’s playoffs than last year’s.

Curry, Thompson, Green, and Kevon Looney didn’t need any more experience, but the value of last year’s title run cannot be quantified for Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and the Warriors’ young players.

They have now seen some stuff too, and when the stakes are highest — and they might be that way right out of the gate — they stand a better chance of acquitting themselves well.

For a player like Jonathan Kuminga, the experience of winning a title last season, paired with his development this past regular season, could make him the breakout star of this postseason.

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga (00) gets high-fives from Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) after a play against Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart (36) in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)  Related Articles Golden State Warriors | Kurtenbach: Sacramento brought cowbells, light beams, and an NBA Finals-like atmosphere to Warriors-Kings Game 1 Golden State Warriors | Giants pitcher and Kings fan Logan Webb shares his thoughts on series with Warriors Golden State Warriors | Kurtenbach: Here’s the Warriors’ path to another title — or a potential breakup Golden State Warriors | The Kings used the Warriors’ blueprint to break their curse Golden State Warriors | ‘All indications’ say Wiggins will be ready for Game 1 of Warriors-Kings

The Warriors will be leaning on Kuminga in these upcoming playoffs. Injuries and absences might have thrust him into more minutes after the All-Star break, but he validated those minutes with outstanding defense and sharp offensive play.

Now that the Warriors are at something close to full health, don’t expect Kuminga’s role to be diminished.

Particularly against the Kings, Kuminga’s athleticism and defensive versatility could prove critical to winning the series. Sacramento plays fast and puts five players on the perimeter on nearly every possession. The Warriors’ one true center, Looney, could have trouble matching up with Kings center Domantas Sabonis, who can score and distribute at all three levels.

And while the Warriors would ideally have Green shadowing Sabonis, they’ll need a backup plan, too. In the last few months, Kuminga has become that backup plan. An excellent one, at that.

“His on-ball defense has really taken a leap. He’s really a guy we lean on to guard the bigger wings in the league — the tougher matchups,” Kerr said.

Sabonis, a rare kind of big man, would certainly fall into that camp. If the Warriors advance, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, or even LeBron James, would qualify as similar matchups.

Looking further down the road, the Warriors could face Kevin Durant and perhaps Giannis Antetokounmpo.

There are few — if any players — in the NBA that can guard those stars. They’re too big. Too skilled.

Wiggins stands a chance, though he’s more of a perimeter player. Green can do it, but he uses his smarts to do the job. Kuminga is one of the few players with the size and top-end athleticism to match up with the NBA’s best.

And his smarts are catching up to his physical abilities.

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga elevates for afourth quarter dunk against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, March 31, 2023. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)(Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)  Related Articles Golden State Warriors | Videos show E-40 being removed from Warriors-Kings playoff game Golden State Warriors | Kings top Warriors to win first playoff game in 16 years Golden State Warriors | Kurtenbach: Sacramento brought cowbells, light beams, and an NBA Finals-like atmosphere to Warriors-Kings Game 1 Golden State Warriors | Warriors vs. Kings Game 1: Andrew Wiggins to come off bench for first time in career Golden State Warriors | NBA playoffs live updates: Warriors blow double-digit lead, drop Game 1 to Kings

“He’s just started to understand the nuances of guarding the best players, understanding their tricks,” Kerr said of Kuminga. “His rookie year, you knew he was going to get called for a foul because he would just be slightly out of position, and his opponent would take advantage of that. Now he understands what’s happening before his opponent can draw that foul.”

Kuminga is also playing at the speed of the Warriors’ game on offense. Since he saw his playing time increase after the All-Star Game (coinciding with Andrew Wiggins’ absence), Kuminga has averaged 13 points per game in 24 minutes per contest. Critically, he’s shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc on 2.5 3-point attempts per game.

Teams are leaving him open on the perimeter, and he’s making them pay. And not just with the 3-point shot. He also can put the ball on the floor and keep the Warriors’ offense moving or simply take off from anywhere inside the free-throw line for a thunderous slam.

Kuminga’s power dunks are not just for show. Basketball is a game of momentum, and nothing swings momentum the Warriors’ way quite like a big, in-your-face Kuminga dunk.

In the playoffs, where every possession matters, those dunks can swing games. We saw Wiggins turn two with big dunks in last year’s title run.

And while Curry was the star of the show last postseason, Wiggins was a close second.

This season, at only 20 years old, Kuminga could join that group.

He knows what it takes to win in the playoffs. No one can match his physical gifts — not even Wiggins. And he found his game in the weeks heading into the postseason.

“A lot of ups and downs, but the improvement has been consistent, and that’s the main thing,” Kerr said. “I think he’ll be dramatically better a couple of years from now. But where he is now is somebody who can help us win. He’s an important part of our team.”

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