JK: Who's Fault Is it?

[Coxy]

Coaching can only do so much. At the end of the day, the player needs to figure it out.

If Kuminga wasn't an A+ athlete, he wouldn;t be anywhere near the league. He got here with athletic genes, however sporting IQ is a completely different thing. Some only get to the NBA because of sporting IQ and have next to no athletic abilty (Nash, Stockton, Price, etc). These types remain in the NBA, and athletic guys that can't figure the game out for lack of smarts, just either fade away or become bit part players (Magic Randolph, Carlos Rodgers, Derrick Williams, Harold Minor).

[HiRez]

Need a "front office" option since they drafted him knowing Kerr was going to there (although Kerr almost certainly has a say on the draft board as well), and then a "combination" option since there is some blame/factors to go around to everyone. It's not any one person's fault it didn't work out, but he probably shouldn't have been here in the first place.

[SpreeS]

This is not only about Kuminga. Kerr cant incorporate a lot of players "not his type" into own system...

Schroder 27min .491/.476/.813 3.7ast 1.2tov 12.5pts vs NY in 6 games

Now image if Kerr could find place for Schroder in his schemes and keep him (send Payton with compensation) in Butler trade, most likely we would be 2-2 with Minny w/o Curry and could wait Curry back.

Player played well in BKN
Player was really bad in Kerr system
Player played well in DET
Player was really great in his role in PO

and this is one season. How?

[superunknown]

I voted kuminga because ultimately it's on the player to improve his game/mindset and also figure out how to play winning basketball.
kerr is a taleban though. he relies too much into motion offense. sometimes in basketball you just put the ball in your best player(s) hands and have them going 1vs1. sometimes you need to go ISO basketball and exploit your opponent weaknesses.
that' why a player like schroder did not work here while he pretty much worked decently everywhere else.
MIN is winning the series with edwards and randle taking turns going 1vs1 and moving the ball if trapped. even OKC doesn't run a complex offense but a pretty basic one. effective offense can be simple: get the ball to your best players to create the shot, if double teammed find the open man (who ofc needs to be able to hit the open looks not an effing bricklayer), some pick&roll, some drive and kick, some backdoor cut to keep the defense honest, hunt the swicth to have someone like randle matched-up against a smaller player for a high percentage shot and similar. it doesn't have to be complicated. it is with kerr.

[Jester_]

This is not only about Kuminga. Kerr cant incorporate a lot of players "not his type" into own system...

Schroder 27min .491/.476/.813 3.7ast 1.2tov 12.5pts vs NY in 6 games

Now image if Kerr could find place for Schroder in his schemes and keep him (send Payton with compensation) in Butler trade, most likely we would be 2-2 with Minny w/o Curry and could wait Curry back.

Player played well in BKN
Player was really bad in Kerr system
Player played well in DET
Player was really great in his role in PO

and this is one season. How?

tbf schroeder was equally ass in detroit in regular season

[SpreeS]

This is not only about Kuminga. Kerr cant incorporate a lot of players "not his type" into own system...

Schroder 27min .491/.476/.813 3.7ast 1.2tov 12.5pts vs NY in 6 games

Now image if Kerr could find place for Schroder in his schemes and keep him (send Payton with compensation) in Butler trade, most likely we would be 2-2 with Minny w/o Curry and could wait Curry back.

Player played well in BKN
Player was really bad in Kerr system
Player played well in DET
Player was really great in his role in PO

and this is one season. How?

tbf schroeder was equally ass in detroit in regular season

No he wasnt. Yes shots didnt go through, but with 5.3ast 1.3tovs and +5.1 nrtg he was positive player.

[AirP.]

Don't like the options for this poll. It's quite possible that Kuminga works hard but works on the wrong things for this particular system and what the coach wants. I think he has way too much tunnel vision to be anything more than an iso scorer.

Personally, I like coaches who have systems where you have a direction to build towards vs changing course every few years but if you have a special talent (which Kuminga is not that) you have to be able to change your system to get the most use of that player.

From the Ringer article below, I've been saying this nearly the whole time I've watched Kuminga since following this team this year. This to me yells I'm playing my way and it was up to the FO to recognize this and fix this issue (most likely trading the player). What's worse is that since nobody but Butler is doing anything offensively with Curry out, Kuminga's scoring stands out and will only strengthen his stance to himself that he is right and the coaching staff is wrong with how they want him to play.

Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff. During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/14/nba/golden-state-warriors-steph-curry-injury-nba-playoffs-2025

[vvoland]

Don't like the options for this poll. It's quite possible that Kuminga works hard but works on the wrong things for this particular system.

Personally, I like coaches who have systems where you have a direction to build towards vs changing course every few years but if you have a special talent (which Kuminga is not that) you have to be able to change your system to get the most use of that player.

From the Ringer article below, I've been saying this nearly the whole time I've watched Kuminga since following this team this year. This to me yells I'm playing my way and it was up to the FO to recognize this and fix this (most likely trading the player). What's worse is that since nobody but Butler is doing anything offensively with Curry out, Kuminga's scoring stands out and will only strengthen his stance to himself that he is right and the coaching staff is wrong with how they want him to play.

Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff. During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/14/nba/golden-state-warriors-steph-curry-injury-nba-playoffs-2025

Buddy Hield has ignored Curry to drive his own offense so often, Kerr had to publicly embarrass him on the bench by "introducing" him to Steph. Steph had to tell Dray (Dray, of all people) to stop shooting and pass him the ball, IN A PLAYOFF GAME!

The argument has never been that JK is a perfect fit. It's that players like Gui, Buddy, Podz, etc. are also seriously flawed players that have exceptions carved out because of the things they do well. JK brings desperately needed scoring to the league's best defense. The fact that the coaching staff hasn't been able to properly utilize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses is a glaring failure for an otherwise very successful staff.

I think JK also bears significant responsibility in not being able to develop in the areas the coaching staff really values (3pt shooting and passing). Those are the less natural skills of his and it's been a long road on those fronts. That said, there are other things he brings that we are in short supply of, see above.

[AirP.]

Don't like the options for this poll. It's quite possible that Kuminga works hard but works on the wrong things for this particular system.

Personally, I like coaches who have systems where you have a direction to build towards vs changing course every few years but if you have a special talent (which Kuminga is not that) you have to be able to change your system to get the most use of that player.

From the Ringer article below, I've been saying this nearly the whole time I've watched Kuminga since following this team this year. This to me yells I'm playing my way and it was up to the FO to recognize this and fix this (most likely trading the player). What's worse is that since nobody but Butler is doing anything offensively with Curry out, Kuminga's scoring stands out and will only strengthen his stance to himself that he is right and the coaching staff is wrong with how they want him to play.

Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff. During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/14/nba/golden-state-warriors-steph-curry-injury-nba-playoffs-2025

Buddy Hield has ignored Curry to drive his own offense so often, Kerr had to publicly embarrass him on the bench by "introducing" him to Steph. Steph had to tell Dray (Dray, of all people) to stop shooting and pass him the ball, IN A PLAYOFF GAME!

The argument has never been that JK is a perfect fit. It's that players like Gui, Buddy, Podz, etc. are also seriously flawed players that have exceptions carved out because of the things they do well. JK brings desperately needed scoring to the league's best defense. The fact that the coaching staff hasn't been able to properly utilize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses is a glaring failure for an otherwise very successful staff.

I think JK also bears significant responsibility in not being able to develop in the areas the coaching staff really values (3pt shooting and passing). Those are the less natural skills of his and it's been a long road on those fronts. That said, there are other things he brings that we are in short supply of, see above.

Hield is supposed to be an outside shooter. There is a whole career to look at that player before they signed him so they knew what they were getting. Kuminga was drafted and they probably thought they could mold him into the type of player they wanted, I think Kuminga fought them way too much.

Look at Butler, he's carried teams to the Finals, he's had great scoring games yet he knows Curry is the #1 option and weirdly he's been saying this out loud since early on, almost like he's trying to get through to someone else (Kuminga), he didn't have to say this in Philly, everyone knew Embiid was the top option but in GS, Kuminga seems to think he's the top option which messes up the whole offense.

Kuminga wants to play a certain way, Kerr wants the team to play a certain way but Kerr has shown he will change things for certain talents, he's altered some of the offense for Butler but Butler has given up a lot of his offense to try to fit in with Curry.

Just because you have talent doesn't mean you work well in all systems and once again, Kuminga's talent isn't good enough to just trash this system and build a system around him.

[vvoland]

Don't like the options for this poll. It's quite possible that Kuminga works hard but works on the wrong things for this particular system.

Personally, I like coaches who have systems where you have a direction to build towards vs changing course every few years but if you have a special talent (which Kuminga is not that) you have to be able to change your system to get the most use of that player.

From the Ringer article below, I've been saying this nearly the whole time I've watched Kuminga since following this team this year. This to me yells I'm playing my way and it was up to the FO to recognize this and fix this (most likely trading the player). What's worse is that since nobody but Butler is doing anything offensively with Curry out, Kuminga's scoring stands out and will only strengthen his stance to himself that he is right and the coaching staff is wrong with how they want him to play.


https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/14/nba/golden-state-warriors-steph-curry-injury-nba-playoffs-2025

Buddy Hield has ignored Curry to drive his own offense so often, Kerr had to publicly embarrass him on the bench by "introducing" him to Steph. Steph had to tell Dray (Dray, of all people) to stop shooting and pass him the ball, IN A PLAYOFF GAME!

The argument has never been that JK is a perfect fit. It's that players like Gui, Buddy, Podz, etc. are also seriously flawed players that have exceptions carved out because of the things they do well. JK brings desperately needed scoring to the league's best defense. The fact that the coaching staff hasn't been able to properly utilize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses is a glaring failure for an otherwise very successful staff.

I think JK also bears significant responsibility in not being able to develop in the areas the coaching staff really values (3pt shooting and passing). Those are the less natural skills of his and it's been a long road on those fronts. That said, there are other things he brings that we are in short supply of, see above.

Hield is supposed to be an outside shooter. There is a whole career to look at that player before they signed him so they knew what they were getting. Kuminga was drafted and they probably thought they could mold him into the type of player they wanted, I think Kuminga fought them way too much.

Look at Butler, he's carried teams to the Finals, he's had great scoring games yet he knows Curry is the #1 option and weirdly he's been saying this out loud since early on, almost like he's trying to get through to someone else (Kuminga), he didn't have to say this in Philly, everyone knew Embiid was the top option but in GS, Kuminga seems to think he's the top option which messes up the whole offense.

Kuminga wants to play a certain way, Kerr wants the team to play a certain way but Kerr has shown he will change things for certain talents, he's altered some of the offense for Butler but Butler has given up a lot of his offense to try to fit in with Curry.

Just because you have talent doesn't mean you work well in all systems and once again, Kuminga's talent isn't good enough to just trash this system and build a system around him.

It was less about his outside shooting than it was his decision making, just like with JK. I think Kerr values 3pt shooting a lot more than he does inside finishing and thus Buddy and Podz get far more rope than JK does.

I haven't seen anything to indicate JK thinks he's the top option when Steph is on the court. Sure, sometimes he goes rogue and attacks mismatches. That he did it late in the season coming back from an injury and trying to establish himself in the playoff rotation is understandable. Wrong? Yes. Understandable? Also, yes.

You know who also goes rogue to drive into the defense or take a ill-advised 3? almost everyone on this roster. Podz, Buddy, Moody, Dray, GP2 all have moments when they should pass to curry but they shoot, instead. Not as often as JK, sure, but they don't see a mismatch in front of them as often as JK does. Hell, he looks at jaden mcd and thinks he has a mismatch and he can put him in the rim. The last 3 games, he's been right. He hasn't always.

You know what else breaks the offense? When players pass up shots created by the offense. Podz, Dray, Moody all look like they're allergic to making shots inside of 15 feet. Loon has never been able to make layups. TJD can only dunk and, even then, only with the left hand. Jimmy has been passing up open layups to pass beyond the 3pt line far too often, especially in the playoffs.

At first, the issue was that JK didn't get to the rim enough and fell in love with the mid range and 3pt shot. Then it was that he didn't rebound or defend enough. Then it was that he didn't play hard enough. Now that he's focused on driving, finishing, getting to the line, and making his FTs, the narrative is he "breaks the offense." I don't know how anyone could have watched that Hou series and not think we could have really used JK's scoring in that series.

This is a mediocre offense WITH steph curry. Not surprising considering we have no one to finish inside and only steph and buddy to make 3s at an above average nba level. It's an offense than can use being broken a few times, especially when steph is off the court. Dray/JK/Jimmy are a +10 nrtg in these playoffs, according to a post I saw earlier. Maybe JK really does fit despite what a very small sample size would have indicated before the playoffs started (though those 3 were pretty good in the lakers game).

[Twinkie defense]

During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.”

Read on Twitter

[AirP.]

[

It was less about his outside shooting than it was his decision making, just like with JK. I think Kerr values 3pt shooting a lot more than he does inside finishing and thus Buddy and Podz get far more rope than JK does.

I haven't seen anything to indicate JK thinks he's the top option when Steph is on the court. Sure, sometimes he goes rogue and attacks mismatches. That he did it late in the season coming back from an injury and trying to establish himself in the playoff rotation is understandable. Wrong? Yes. Understandable? Also, yes.

Then you're not watching at all when he's in the game.

Gets ball with 18 on the shot clock, no thought of passing
15 seconds and decides the possession is all his
Holy ****, it's Kuminga time! He made it but it was apparent nobody else was a consideration.
Kuminga time again. I don't know how you expect to run an offense with someone doing this.

These were just shots from that Portland game that the Ringer article I posted said Kerr referenced, not sure how you can't see it.

You know who also goes rogue to drive into the defense or take a ill-advised 3? almost everyone on this roster. Podz, Buddy, Moody, Dray, GP2 all have moments when they should pass to curry but they shoot, instead. Not as often as JK, sure, but they don't see a mismatch in front of them as often as JK does. Hell, he looks at jaden mcd and thinks he has a mismatch and he can put him in the rim. The last 3 games, he's been right. He hasn't always.

You know what else breaks the offense? When players pass up shots created by the offense. Podz, Dray, Moody all look like they're allergic to making shots inside of 15 feet. Loon has never been able to make layups. TJD can only dunk and, even then, only with the left hand. Jimmy has been passing up open layups to pass beyond the 3pt line far too often, especially in the playoffs.

At first, the issue was that JK didn't get to the rim enough and fell in love with the mid range and 3pt shot. Then it was that he didn't rebound or defend enough. Then it was that he didn't play hard enough. Now that he's focused on driving, finishing, getting to the line, and making his FTs, the narrative is he "breaks the offense." I don't know how anyone could have watched that Hou series and not think we could have really used JK's scoring in that series.

This is a mediocre offense WITH steph curry. Not surprising considering we have no one to finish inside and only steph and buddy to make 3s at an above average nba level. It's an offense than can use being broken a few times, especially when steph is off the court. Dray/JK/Jimmy are a +10 nrtg in these playoffs, according to a post I saw earlier. Maybe JK really does fit despite what a very small sample size would have indicated before the playoffs started (though those 3 were pretty good in the lakers game).

It's not just about what a player can score, it's how the TEAM scores with them on the court.

Let's look at calculated ORTGs for the year, shall we?

For GS in the regular season...
Butler 136
Payton 124 (role player)
Curry 120
Santos 118 (role player)
Moody 116 (role player)
Podz 116 role player+)
Wiggins 116
Post 116 (role player)
Hield 108 (role player)
Kuminga 108
Draymond 107

Players in the rotation below Draymond... nobody.

How about the playoffs?
Butler 127
Hield 121 (role player)
Santos 116 (role player)
Payton 115 (role player)
Curry 115
Kuminga 111
Moody 105 (role player)
Post 104 (role player)
Podz 97 (pathetic)
Draymond 88 (beyond pathetic)

You seem to try to indicate that Kerr is willing to wreck the team to not play Kuminga (I have no idea why Kerr would do that), that's not what's happening, Kuminga is refusing to not look to call his own number so much and play within the offense to help the team.

[vvoland]

[

It was less about his outside shooting than it was his decision making, just like with JK. I think Kerr values 3pt shooting a lot more than he does inside finishing and thus Buddy and Podz get far more rope than JK does.

I haven't seen anything to indicate JK thinks he's the top option when Steph is on the court. Sure, sometimes he goes rogue and attacks mismatches. That he did it late in the season coming back from an injury and trying to establish himself in the playoff rotation is understandable. Wrong? Yes. Understandable? Also, yes.

Then you're not watching at all when he's in the game.

Gets ball with 18 on the shot clock, no thought of passing
15 seconds and decides the possession is all his
Holy ****, it's Kuminga time! He made it but it was apparent nobody else was a consideration.
Kuminga time again. I don't know how you expect to run an offense with someone doing this.

These were just shots from that Portland game that the Ringer article I posted said Kerr referenced, not sure how you can't see it.

You know who also goes rogue to drive into the defense or take a ill-advised 3? almost everyone on this roster. Podz, Buddy, Moody, Dray, GP2 all have moments when they should pass to curry but they shoot, instead. Not as often as JK, sure, but they don't see a mismatch in front of them as often as JK does. Hell, he looks at jaden mcd and thinks he has a mismatch and he can put him in the rim. The last 3 games, he's been right. He hasn't always.

You know what else breaks the offense? When players pass up shots created by the offense. Podz, Dray, Moody all look like they're allergic to making shots inside of 15 feet. Loon has never been able to make layups. TJD can only dunk and, even then, only with the left hand. Jimmy has been passing up open layups to pass beyond the 3pt line far too often, especially in the playoffs.

At first, the issue was that JK didn't get to the rim enough and fell in love with the mid range and 3pt shot. Then it was that he didn't rebound or defend enough. Then it was that he didn't play hard enough. Now that he's focused on driving, finishing, getting to the line, and making his FTs, the narrative is he "breaks the offense." I don't know how anyone could have watched that Hou series and not think we could have really used JK's scoring in that series.

This is a mediocre offense WITH steph curry. Not surprising considering we have no one to finish inside and only steph and buddy to make 3s at an above average nba level. It's an offense than can use being broken a few times, especially when steph is off the court. Dray/JK/Jimmy are a +10 nrtg in these playoffs, according to a post I saw earlier. Maybe JK really does fit despite what a very small sample size would have indicated before the playoffs started (though those 3 were pretty good in the lakers game).

It's not just about what a player can score, it's how the TEAM scores with them on the court.

Let's look at calculated ORTGs for the year, shall we?

For GS in the regular season...
Butler 136
Payton 124 (role player)
Curry 120
Santos 118 (role player)
Moody 116 (role player)
Podz 116 role player+)
Wiggins 116
Post 116 (role player)
Hield 108 (role player)
Kuminga 108
[Draymond 107

Players in the rotation below Draymond... nobody.

How about the playoffs?
Butler 127
Hield 121 (role player)
Santos 116 (role player)
Payton 115 (role player)
Curry 115
Kuminga 111
Moody 105 (role player)
Post 104 (role player)
Podz 97 (pathetic)
Draymond 88 (beyond pathetic)

I agreed with you on the Portland game. He goes rogue too often and him pressing in late season games after a 2 month layoff was understandable. Wrong, but understandable.

I seem to be communicating this poorly or you're missing my point - I've seen less talented offensive players do this exact thing, podz, moody, and dray being prime examples. They take shots early in the clock, don't see the open man, drive into traffic, turn the ball over. They have other things Kerr values so he gives them more rope. It's a matter of preference and balance. I can agree on the former but disagree on the latter.

Those ORTG numbers prove to me JK should be playing a lot in these playoffs. Santos's numbers have to be against scrubs and in a very limited sample. I would be curious what those numbers are during non-garbage time. Even with those variables, JK is the 6th best offensive player on the team, according to ORTG and, right now, #1 is hurt, #3 won't play real mins, and #5 is injured.

I am not indicating Kerr is wrecking the team to play JK. There was a similar narrative last year about Kerr playing Klay, too much, in that case. I just think Kerr has his convictions as to what is meaningful to him on the court. It's clear he prefers shooting, ball-handling, and passing at the expense of almost everything else. 4 titles and 2 other trips to the finals in 10 years speaks for itself. In this particular case, I strongly disagree. I happen to think JK should have started and played 40+ mins the minute Steph got hurt. I also thought he could have helped us win a game in round 1 and not have it go 7. I am not advocating giving him the keys to the offense and making Steph a second thought.

[AirP.]

I agreed with you on the Portland game. He goes rogue too often and him pressing in late season games after a 2 month layoff was understandable. Wrong, but understandable.

I seem to be communicating this poorly or you're missing my point - I've seen less talented offensive players do this exact thing, podz, moody, and dray being prime examples. They take shots early in the clock, don't see the open man, drive into traffic, turn the ball over. They have other things Kerr values so he gives them more rope. It's a matter of preference and balance. I can agree on the former but disagree on the latter.

Sure, but they don't just lock in on trying to score and say screw the offense. It's one thing to see a shot and go get it, it's a whole different thing when a player like Kuminga has to make 3-4 different moves to find his shot while everyone else is just having to watch him do this. Make a move to get his man off balance and go by him... sure, try 2-3 spin moves to try to find your own shot then put up a not great shot with a bunch of time on the shot clock is just bad offense and Kuminga does this too often, especially for a player who did 1 year in the g-league then has had 4 seasons to work on his game. It is possible to work on your game and go to moves to get shots off. Kuminga looks like he's a raw rookie still.

Those ORTG numbers prove to me JK should be playing a lot in these playoffs. Santos's numbers have to be against scrubs and in a very limited sample. I would be curious what those numbers are during non-garbage time. Even with those variables, JK is the 6th best offensive player on the team, according to ORTG and, right now, #1 is hurt, #3 won't play real mins, and #5 is injured.

I am not indicating Kerr is wrecking the team to play JK. There was a similar narrative last year about Kerr playing Klay, too much, in that case. I just think Kerr has his convictions as to what is meaningful to him on the court. It's clear he prefers shooting, ball-handling, and passing at the expense of almost everything else. 4 titles and 2 other trips to the finals in 10 years speaks for itself. In this particular case, I strongly disagree. I happen to think JK should have started and played 40+ mins the minute Steph got hurt. I also thought he could have helped us win a game in round 1 and not have it go 7. I am not advocating giving him the keys to the offense and making Steph a second thought.

Doesn't matter if you advocate it or not, he does it if he wants to and he usually does.

Want to hear something interesting, in this last season, Kuminga took 2 less shots per36 than Curry did, that's ****ing insane because we also know he got fouled while trying to shoot to get FTs (he shot nearly twice as many per36) so you're now looking at Kuminga getting up nearly as many offensive possessions as Curry. Once again, his shooting rate at 17.9 FGA per36 was the same amount as KD who ranked 25th in the NBA in FGA per36, why should Kuminga be putting up anywhere near that many shots when on the court? I use per36 to show the rate of shots since each player gets a different amount of minutes.

[powerball1373]

Do any of you really think Kerr hasn't told Kuminga what he needs to do to get on the court? I have to think Kuminga didn't want to change his way of playing, there are a lot of high picks that refuse to change because they want to play a certain way in their career because it could affect their money. You have Curry, the offense needs to be about this generational scorer yet when Kuminga's on the court he's more about himself than this generational scorer.

It can be that Kuminga is talented but he needs to play a certain way and if this is true it's on the FO not to know this or not to move him for the right type of player, then again there's the option of saying screw it and force the coach to say screw winning, develop this player but personally, I don't see enough talent to do that in Kuminga. He can be a scorer but it's probably not a guy you can have as a top 3 salary on your roster and compete for a championship.

Basically, it's partially on Kuminga for not conforming and also on the FO not to recognize this and get the most out of that asset by trading him. Now if they decided to trade him in the last year, you're probably getting more for him if you S&T him vs trading him at his low rookie salary (outside of getting a draft asset or 2 back for him). I do know Miami didn't want him in the Butler trade because they're trying to clear the books for 2026, not add to them.

I don't think it's JK refusing to change how he plays, rather he just doesn't process things as fast as he needs to in order to really succeed in the motion offense. He can try all he wants, but it's more about BBIQ than effort. Though the defense and rebounding part is effort, which he seems to be getting better at.

[vvoland]

I agreed with you on the Portland game. He goes rogue too often and him pressing in late season games after a 2 month layoff was understandable. Wrong, but understandable.

I seem to be communicating this poorly or you're missing my point - I've seen less talented offensive players do this exact thing, podz, moody, and dray being prime examples. They take shots early in the clock, don't see the open man, drive into traffic, turn the ball over. They have other things Kerr values so he gives them more rope. It's a matter of preference and balance. I can agree on the former but disagree on the latter.

Sure, but they don't just lock in on trying to score and say screw the offense. It's one thing to see a shot and go get it, it's a whole different thing when a player like Kuminga has to make 3-4 different moves to find his shot while everyone else is just having to watch him do this. Make a move to get his man off balance and go by him... sure, try 2-3 spin moves to try to find your own shot then put up a not great shot with a bunch of time on the shot clock is just bad offense and Kuminga does this too often, especially for a player who did 1 year in the g-league then has had 4 seasons to work on his game. It is possible to work on your game and go to moves to get shots off. Kuminga looks like he's a raw rookie still.

Those ORTG numbers prove to me JK should be playing a lot in these playoffs. Santos's numbers have to be against scrubs and in a very limited sample. I would be curious what those numbers are during non-garbage time. Even with those variables, JK is the 6th best offensive player on the team, according to ORTG and, right now, #1 is hurt, #3 won't play real mins, and #5 is injured.

I am not indicating Kerr is wrecking the team to play JK. There was a similar narrative last year about Kerr playing Klay, too much, in that case. I just think Kerr has his convictions as to what is meaningful to him on the court. It's clear he prefers shooting, ball-handling, and passing at the expense of almost everything else. 4 titles and 2 other trips to the finals in 10 years speaks for itself. In this particular case, I strongly disagree. I happen to think JK should have started and played 40+ mins the minute Steph got hurt. I also thought he could have helped us win a game in round 1 and not have it go 7. I am not advocating giving him the keys to the offense and making Steph a second thought.

Doesn't matter if you advocate it or not, he does it if he wants to and he usually does.

Want to hear something interesting, in this last season, Kuminga took 2 less shots per36 than Curry did, that's ****ing insane because we also know he got fouled while trying to shoot to get FTs (he shot nearly twice as many per36) so you're now looking at Kuminga getting up nearly as many offensive possessions as Curry. Once again, his shooting rate at 17.9 FGA per36 was the same amount as KD who ranked 25th in the NBA in FGA per36, why should Kuminga be putting up anywhere near that many shots when on the court? I use per36 to show the rate of shots since each player gets a different amount of minutes.

It is pretty nuts but take a look at our offense before jimmy got here and you'll find your answer. KD has book and beal to take shots and that's before you get to his supporting players. Prior to Jimmy, Hield was barely playable and went through long stretches of terrible shooting. Podz started off this year worse than he's playing now, if you can believe it. This team had no offensive options without steph on the floor and often struggled, especially late in games, even with Steph. It sounds insane but the Melton injury early in the season killed this pre-jimmy version.

JK's only real role this season, when he played, was as the secondary scoring option and primary when Steph was out. I get it, trust me, i do. 18 FGA/36 is a ton. It really is. I think his number should be closer to 15 (where he was last year w/ an eFG of 58%). It's been a struggle for him to play with Steph and find that balance; a struggle many players experience when coming here. I'm just saying there's a better balance than the one Kerr has struck.

I'm not sure the distinction between JK taking an ill-advised mid range or forcing stuff inside versus Podz or Buddy taking long 3s early in the clock. In fact, the latter often lead to long rebounds and dunks on the other end. You're saying one is 'breaking the offense' and the others "don't lock in on trying to score."

I disagree on that. Podz and Buddy often make mistakes precisely when they "lock in on trying to score" as opposed to take what the offense is giving. Podz also has the problem of not taking what the offense is giving if what they're giving are floaters and contested layups. Buddy has no such issues. GP2, Dray, etc all have serious flaws and that's the major point. JK's flaws stand out to Kerr (and you) as fatal ones. I disagree and think it's on the coaching to help minimize those flaws while maximizing the talents.

[Dubs 707]

https://youtu.be/pZArHiOwSHs?si=7cCRkcUg075c0vax

[Crazy-Canuck]

Giddey is looking at a 5/150 type deal in the offseason.

Jk is not better than giddey. He and his team cost themselves millions.

[WarriorGM]

JK gets benched for taking the shot when that's what he'll be expected to do to reach his potential. Meanwhile the guy whose job is to pass the shot gets benched for passing the shot and hardly ever gets to play with the best shooters on the team.

[ILOVEIT]

Kerr overvalues himself. Meaning, he just absolutely loves the 6'3" scrappy white dudes.

If Kuminga still makes a mistake now and then, it's BECAUSE KERR FAILED TO PLAY HIM FOR MORE THAN 5 GAME STRETCHES!

If I'm Lacob, watching Wiseman fail to develop, then Kuminga, then watching Podz suck shooting yet get massive minutes, I consider blowing this up and canning Kerr.

Sigh....I can't wait for the offseason threads.