Kerr struggling with Warriors starting lineup before season opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Ideally, Warriors coach Steve Kerr would prefer to have a starting lineup he can lean on throughout the 2024-25 NBA season. With a roster that’s as deep as any he’s coached before, Kerr will likely have to do some mixing and matching early.
Kerr declined to say who Golden State’s starters will be for Wednesday’s season opener in Portland against the Trail Blazers and acknowledged the situation could be fluid for the first few weeks.
“My gut is we’re going to look at a lot of different combinations, but when we find one, we’re going to stick with it,” Kerr said Tuesday after the Warriors held their final practice before flying to the Pacific Northwest. “We just have to start a certain way and then see how it works. Just like I tell the players, everyone has to stay ready.”
It will be another look for the Warriors after a long time guard Klay Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks on a sign-and-trade contract over the summer. The free-agent additions of Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield added to the change and opened more options for Kerr and his staff to explore.
Kerr no doubt has a good idea of what his plans will be in Portland, though he will have to be flexible until a solid starting five emerges. Even then, it might be a constant call. With the exception of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, nothing is certain and set in stone.
It doesn’t matter who starts or who comes off the bench, though, the bottom line is pretty simple.
“I’d like to have one starting lineup for the whole year, and hopefully the group I start tomorrow will become our consistent starting group of five,” Kerr said. “But it has to lead to victories.”
