Warriors Shift Lineup in Search of Consistency After Early Struggles

SAN ANTONIO — Steve Kerr has announced significant changes to his Golden State Warriors lineup as the team aims to recover from a shaky start to the season.

After a 5-4 record, the Warriors made adjustments leading up to their game against the San Antonio Spurs. Kerr officially introduced a new starting lineup that includes veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, alongside Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard.

The decision follows a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Green expressed doubts about the team’s mentality. Kerr recognized the importance of Green’s concerns during his pregame press conference, stating, “I respect the fact he always speaks his mind… We aren’t right emotionally, spiritually.”

As the Warriors sit with a 6-6 record, Kerr acknowledged the team’s struggle to maintain the positive energy they had at the season’s start. He said, “It’s that we’re not in sync… A play here or there and all of a sudden you’re down.”

Kerr is looking for solutions after back-to-back losses to the injury-laden Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. The coaching staff’s choice to bench Jonathan Kuminga, who recently struggled, illustrates their urgency to find the right mix.

In addressing Green’s comments, Kerr emphasized that the lack of synergy is a collective issue, not the fault of any individual player. He committed to enhancing team dynamics by reviewing gameplay and identifying essential floor movements.

Additionally, Kerr warned veteran players that Richard’s impressive 30-point game, achieved in a recent start against the Sacramento Kings, could impact minutes allocation. With Hield’s limited playtime and Richard’s emergence, some team dynamics may shift ahead of the mid-season trade deadline.

Should Richard continue to rise, Hield, currently averaging 7.7 points, may become expendable, especially with only $3 million of his contract guaranteed for the next season. Kerr’s flexibility with the lineup suggests a race against time to stabilize performance as season challenges grow.