It’s been an up-and-down year for the Golden State Warriors.
The reigning NBA champions struggled to find consistency early in the season, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
Coach Steve Kerr gambled a little with his new rotations, and the second unit didn’t do much to help their winning cause.
Needless to say, losing Stephen Curry due to a shoulder injury only aggravated the situation, but it might as well have been a blessing in disguise for the Dubs.
Despite not having the reigning Finals MVP on the floor, the Warriors are now winners of four games in a row, with multiple youngsters stepping up and proving that they could also contribute:
That's four straight wins without Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins to open this eight-game homestand from the Warriors. Beat the Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz and now Blazers. Jordan Poole scored 41. Klay Thompson 31. Draymond/DiVincenzo/Kuminga important. Wiggins likely back Monday.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 31, 2022
“Yeah, this feels different to win this game based on the circumstances,” Coach Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area. “This was a game we wouldn’t have won a few weeks ago, but I think our young guys are really growing, we’re getting great performances every night from guys like [Jonathan Kuminga] and [Anthony Lamb] and Ty Jerome. Guys like Donte [DiVincenzo] have been fantastic not just knocking down shots, but defending with force. Jordan Poole creating so much for us and then Draymond [Green] and [Kevon Looney] holding down the defense is fun to watch. I just think we’ve shown a lot of grit here the last few games.”
Curry is still at least a couple of weeks away from coming back, so having the second unit trending up is a massive win for the champs.
NEXT: Jordan Poole Has Stepped Up In A Big Way Without Steph Curry