Steve Kerr has explained why Draymond Green was benched in favor of Al Horford in the closing lineup over the last two wins.
Golden State have managed two narrow victories against the Suns and Grizzlies over the last five days.
Kerr says star player Steph Curry’s absence has narrowed the team’s margin for error during offense, which has forced him to prioritize spacing and interior scoring late in games – in other words, to play Horford.
“Al in the Phoenix game and last night was playing so well,” Kerr said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “And I think without Steph, it’s easier for us to score if Al is at the five and then we space the floor around him.”
He went on to say without Steph, it’s difficult to play both Horford and Green simultaneously.
“It’s harder to find lineup combinations without Steph where we can play Dray at the four,” Kerr said. “If Al is playing like that — scoring inside and dominating the glass — then yeah, we’re going to play Al. Without Steph, it’s tough to put those guys together. Right now, it’s kind of an either-or.”
Kerr backed himself up with similar sentiments on radio.
“Without Steph and Jimmy, we’re struggling to score at times and we’re just finding that we’re better off playing one big,” the head coach explained on Willard & Dibs. “And if Al is playing like he did last night then we’re going to stay with Al and stay smaller around him… So it’s just the way it is right now. Everything could be completely different next week so you just have to kind of roll with it.”
The Warriors may soon be able to use another big in new signing Kristaps Porzingis, with Kerr hinting he could make his debut as early as next week.
“He [Porzingis] played three on three today… Our training staff feels pretty good about where he is, and the possibility that he’ll play next week,” he said.
READ MORE: Donovan Mitchell & James Harden Recruiting LeBron to the Cavaliers?