How Competition Could Kickstart The Warrior's Disappointing Season

Before last night's game with the Portland Trailblazers, it was announced that the Warriors would be sticking with the "championship" starting five of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. In the lineup's prime, last night would have ended with a comfortable victory. Curry would have 30 without breaking a sweat. Klay and Wiggins would provide offence when needed while locking down the other team's two best players. Green and Looney would roam the baseline, helping around the rim, grabbing rebounds and starting fast breaks that were impossible to slow down. But when the halftime siren sounded, coach Steve Kerr entered the locker room with the stat sheet in hand and a 7-point deficit looming over his head. The "championship"  lineup was getting outplayed by Portland role players such as Duop Reath and Jabari Walker. Another loss would have sent them to the bottom third of the West; it was time to panic in San Fransisco.

Desperate for answers, Kerr turns to 21-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, who is patiently waiting at the end of the bench. He received zero minutes of action in the first half, and the athletic unicorn with a vertical leap high enough to contend with any of the NBA's highlight machines is hoping for an opportunity to prove himself. His 6'7 frame and long wing span gives him a defensive upside that the Warriors desire. His added rim pressure forces opponents to guard the lob, something they have never had to worry about with past iterations of the Warriors. However, he's still very raw. Bad shot selection, an underdeveloped jump shot and defensive lapses have given Kerr an excuse to keep him chained to the bench. But with the 12th loss of the season materialising, something had to change. Golden State required a burst of energy, and Kuminga could provide it.

In 17 minutes of game action, he scored 13 points on 100% field goal efficiency, a career half that will have season-long ramifications. After the game, Curry complemented Kuminga's performance, saying, "If he dosen't do what he did, stay ready, show maturity, we lose this game.". While Kerr talked about "moving the starting lineup around game to game depending on the matchup", sending a clear message to the underperforming veterans. Past performance does not guarantee future opportunities. Young players will compete with Warrior legends for the first time since 2014, a competitive challenge that will drive improvement from everyone involved. Golden State must evolve, and an open challenge for minutes will keep them relevant in a league vastly different from the one they first conquered in 2015.