The Golden State Warriors are already showing their hand.
Steve Kerr said veteran center Al Horford will come off the bench against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the team’s second preseason game, with Gui Santos sliding into the starting group. That move could be a preview of Golden State’s opening-night plan on October 21 if Kristaps Porzingis isn’t available.
Kerr made it clear Horford is “most likely” headed for a reserve role as the Warriors try to manage his minutes this season. Horford started Sunday’s preseason opener against the L.A. Clippers, but the night was a quiet one: three points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal on 1-of-5 shooting in less than 16 minutes during a 104-101 loss.
The bigger issue, though, is Porzingis. Kerr offered no encouragement before Tuesday’s game and said the former All-Star remains out indefinetly after missing all of training camp and Sunday’s preseason opener. With the season opener now just two weeks away, that leaves his status in serious doubt.
That puts the focus on the lineup Golden State is likely to use if Porzingis can’t go. Sunday’s starting five suggested Kerr does not want Draymond Green at center, but it also created a tougher balancing act with Horford’s workload. Asking the 40-year-old to handle that kind of burden every night is clearly not the plan.
There is, however, a case for the smaller look. Santos has earned a shot based on how he finished last season, and the Warriors may have another option in Yaxel Lendeborg, who checked in at 6'9", 240 pounds and grabbed nine rebounds in less than 19 minutes against the Clippers.
A quicker lineup with five-out spacing could also help Golden State play with more pace. That matters for a team trying to climb out of last season’s 19th-ranked offense.
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Now the concern the Warriors hoped to avoid is already staring them in the face, with Porziis out indefinitely while dealing with a health issue. The team has kept the matter private and has not offered a timetable or any further clarity, leaving Golden State to wait on a player it clearly believed was worth the investment but cannot count on in the short term. [Read more 🡒]