Despite doubt from select NBA analysts, such as ESPN's Tim Legler, the Golden State Warriors' early-season strategy hasn't faltered. Steve Kerr deployed a unique plan during the Warriors' hot start, in which the Stephen Curry-led unit boasts the best record in the Western Conference. After 14 games, the results support Kerr's 12-man rotation idea.
"This is as deep of a team I've coached. We are going to lean in on that. We are going to play a lot of people," Kerr said after the Warriors' first game of the season vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
Following the Warriors' opening game's 139-104 blowout victory over the Trail Blazers, ESPN's NBA analyst and color commentator expressed disbelief in Kerr maintaining such a risky strategy, as he labeled it "unsustainable."
"What he [Kerr] means is, 'for now,'" Legler said. "He is saying that it is going to be a meritocracy. We are going to figure out who is going to grab these minutes because it is not sustainable to do this for a full season."
According to The Ringer's Howard Beck's research, the Warriors have 13 players averaging at least 11 minutes per game.
Although the season is young, Kerr resumes his previously assumed impossible task at a successful rate. Despite lacking a second star to support Curry, the Warriors' "strength in numbers" mantra lives in their deep bench. However, Kerr's loose rotation could tighten a tad without De'Anthony Melton in the lineup due to a season-ending ACL injury.
One plan and goal for Kerr regarding the 12-man rotation,n is derived from the desire to build an elite defense. In light of the early-season metrics, Kerr accomplished both without compromising the chemistry.
Golden State ranks sixth in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating.
Kerr's theory of how a 12-man rotation could improve their defense makes sense.
“We can play shorter stints,” Kerr said. “We can play harder within those stints. Our number one objective coming in this year was to get our defense back in the top echelon. And it seemed like a good way to pursue that by really playing a lot of people and playing harder for shorter stints.”
In fairness to Legler's earlier critiques of Kerr's idea, he said it wouldn't work for the entire season. However, until it stops working, Kerr's idea enables the Warriors to succeed at an elite rate despite harboring a shallow roster regarding only deploying a single star player.
