It became a tall order for the Golden State Warriors to conquer the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3. With the series hanging in the balance and heading to San Francisco for the next two games, the Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, waved the white flag around 4:03.
He removed his regular starters to focus on Game 3 and keep them reinvigorated for the next game. The Timberwolves led 106-85 when Kerr decided to pull the plug, and the gameplay suggested the Warriors won’t come back from a heavy deficit.
Thus, heading to Game 3, the Warriors can brush off the disappointment of Game 2, get back to their best in the next game, and put in a better effort.
Significantly, Kerr wanted to manage his players while avoiding a lost cause. It could probably become a wise decision.
Steve Kerr Reveals Master Plan for Subbing off Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III
In the post-game press conference, the reporters inquired about Kerr’s decision to remove Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III. Kerr responded, “I didn’t want to push it with Draymond or Jimmy. I didn’t want to chase this game unless it was really gettable.”
Kerr removed Green at 7:59, and Butler left the game at 4:03 in the fourth quarter. Green concluded the game with nine points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Butler had 17 points and seven rebounds.
With Curry already on the sidelines for Game 3 and probably Games 4 and 5, the Warriors can’t afford to lose Butler or Green.
“They have been playing huge minutes every other day, flying over the country, so we had to do away with that,” said Kerr, regarding the playing time of his two superstars.
Although the Warriors went on a 15-6 run in the third quarter, the Timberwolves had a run of their own to take the game away from Kerr and Co. With no realistic use of chasing the game and risking injuries, Kerr pulled the plug on Green and Butler.
He continued, “And, yeah, we obviously made a push in the second half, but the first half, we weren’t going into the game thinking, playing a lot of people. Short burst minutes and try to protect Jimmy and Draymond.”
Managing Rotations Critical for the Warriors
The Warriors could be effective if they manage their rotations well. Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, and Trayce Jackson-Davis could provide valuable minutes when the starters are not on the floor.
Thus, with Curry injured, the load on Green and Butler remains at an all-time high. In the regular season, Butler arrived at the Warriors and played 30 games, clocking in 32.7 minutes, while Green played 68 games in 29.2 minutes.
Both these players are 35 and need a breather to get going. Likewise, Butler clocked in 34.9 minutes in the playoffs while Green had 32.6 minutes. Playing so many minutes puts them at risk of injury, and Kerr doesn’t prefer that.
Hence, if they stay fit and fresh, Butler and Green could be helpful for the Warriors in Game 3.