Dub Hub: Steph Curry hints at the need for more ‘predictable’ lineup rotations

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, December 2nd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry discusses the Warriors rotation, says it could help to be more ‘predictable’ to get players in a better rhythm.
• Steve Kerr explains several of the lineup changes made during Saturday’s game vs. the Suns.
• Hornets’ LaMelo Ball to be re-evaluated in two weeks due to a calf strain, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Golden State Warriors’ once-vaunted depth is under scrutiny amid their four-game losing streak. Saturday’s 113-105 loss to the Suns highlighted the concerns about the team’s deep roster, as head coach Steve Kerr, once again, utilized a 13-man rotation.

Stephen Curry, back from a one-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis, scored 23 points in 32 minutes. While the team’s depth helps manage his minutes at age 36—down to 29.9 minutes per game, the third-lowest of his career—Curry hints at the need for more “predictable” rotations to help players find a rhythm.

After a 12-3 start to the season, the Warriors have slipped to 12-7 and fourth in the Western Conference standings. With their early cushion slowly dissipating, expect some adjustments to be made as the Warriors wrap up the first quarter of the season.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, December 2nd:

Warriors News:

What changes are needed to the Warriors’ suddenly struggling 13-man rotation? | The Athletic

But that even-handed approach has a way of sapping the energy and effort from those bench players who don’t get the extended run they feel like they deserve and need for rhythm and routine purposes. It has fairly clearly impacted Kuminga and Moody, two former lottery picks and crucial players to the team’s present and future who are still minimized at the beginning of their fourth season.

“It’s hard as hell,” Curry said. “No two ways around it. Mo played two minutes tonight. Kyle played seven. Two games ago, Mo had a stretch where he had 15 (points) and then played four minutes in the second half. It’s hard for everybody. Coach’s job is to make those tough decisions. It’s our job to help him. If you’re not playing, don’t pout, don’t bring the locker room down. It doesn’t help anybody. Including yourself.”

Steve Kerr explains some of the changes he made to the rotation on Saturday vs. the Suns

Stephen Curry says pain in knees new, ‘not concerned at all’ | ESPN

“[It] has the potential [to be] like a nagging type thing if you don’t take care of it,” Curry said of the knee pain after the game. “I’m not worried about it, not concerned about it at all. It’s just the deeper you get into your career, the more things pop up and you just got to figure it out.”

Curry, 36, said Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ vice president of player health and performance, has come up with a protocol to get ahead of the issue. Curry said he is not sure if that means he will have to miss any games as maintenance.

What we learned as Steph struggles in loss to KD, Suns | NBC Sports Bay Area

Curry, Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis got the call for the first time together, and were solid together, though Kevon Looney did replace Jackson-Davis to start the second half.

Podziemski’s decisiveness has taken a back seat this season as he has struggled shooting. How he began Saturday night in Phoenix is exactly what Kerr wants to see. By the time he went to the bench at the 5:50 mark, Podziemski already had eight points, two rebounds and one assist, going a perfect 3 of 3 from the field while making both his 3-point attempts with the Warriors up 18-16.

Steph Curry surpasses 24,000 career points after Saturday’s game vs. Suns

NBA News:

NBA intel: Draft pick protections, franchise decisions to watch | ESPN

Windhorst: Speaking of the Pelicans, over the past two weeks, Williamson and Brandon Ingram left their respective longtime agents and are in the process of signing with new ones. Unlike Williamson, who is under contract long term, Ingram and New Orleans are at a stalemate ahead of his unrestricted free agency next summer.

Sources told ESPN the two sides can’t agree on a contract extension and trade talks since last summer have failed to align. Finding a place where New Orleans can send Ingram’s $36 million salary and get value while also reducing salary — the Pelicans are currently in the luxury tax for the first time ever and not likely to stay there — is hard enough. But finding a deal with a team Ingram will be comfortable signing a new contract with has also stalled talks, per sources.

NBA free agency: Early look at the 2025 class, including Jimmy Butler, Myles Turner and more | The Athletic

What has made Turner truly special at times in his career is combining that shooting with being the anchor of a solid defense but his once-dominant rim protection has diminished somewhat over the last few years, though another team could believe that being in a new ecosystem may lead to the revival of a true NBA unicorn.

Another reason Turner could be a key factor in 2025 free agency is that he turns 29 shortly before next offseason, so the team that signs him should get the remainder of his prime but not many post-prime years, taking some of the risk out of the contract. He also may be more feasible to sign because the Pacers are only about $20 million below the luxury tax line after retaining Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard this offseason. Paying Turner market rate likely requires shedding salary or paying the tax, opening the door for other suitors to work their way into the conversation to sign him outright or negotiate a sign-and-trade.

Hornets LaMelo Ball out two weeks with calf strain

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

The Warriors’ ‘deep’ roster has been writing checks Steph Curry and Draymond Green are struggling to cash

On-off stats have never captured the importance of Curry and Green being on the floor at all times than this season, where — heading into the game against the Phoenix Suns — the Warriors have outscored opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions in 351 minutes of the Curry-Green duo playing. On the other hand, in 293 minutes of Curry and Green both sitting down, the Warriors have been outscored by 0.4 points per 100 possessions — virtually a net neutral in such minutes. That translates to the team being 13 points per 100 possessions worse without their two franchise cornerstones.

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