Head coach Steve Kerr<\/span><\/span><\/strong> joined the Willard and Dibs Show<\/em> to discuss how the Warriors have managed to stay afloat and why Green has found himself watching from the sidelines during fourth-quarter minutes.<\/p>\n Kerr made it very clear: the Warriors without Curry<\/strong> are simply a different team, especially on offense.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot different without Steph. Losing Steph impacts our offense in some really dramatic ways\u2026 Steph really negates almost every spacing issue just because he\u2019s that<\/em> good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Without Curry \u2014 and without Jimmy Butler<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, who is also out \u2014 Kerr acknowledged the team has had to rebuild its offensive identity on the fly:<\/p>\n \u201cWithout Steph and Jimmy, we\u2019re struggling to score at times, and we\u2019re finding we\u2019re better off playing one big<\/em>. And if Al<\/strong> is playing like he did last night, then we\u2019re going to stay with Al and stay smaller around him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n (Al refers to Al Horford, recently acquired as a veteran big man.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Kerr added that the rotation is fluid and likely to evolve week to week as bodies return.<\/p>\n This is where the storyline becomes significant.<\/p>\n In the Warriors\u2019 101\u201397 win vs. the Phoenix Suns<\/strong>, Draymond Green<\/strong> was benched for the final 7 minutes<\/strong> of the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n In the 114\u2013113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies<\/strong>, Green again sat the final 9 minutes<\/strong> of the fourth.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n And it wasn\u2019t only an offensive-spacing issue.<\/p>\n For the first time in years, the Warriors appear more functional defensively<\/strong> without Green down the stretch. The 36-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year is no longer the all-world defensive anchor he once was, and the team\u2019s analytics have increasingly reflected that reality.<\/p>\n Kerr did not deny that the Warriors have adjusted expectations regarding Green\u2019s role.<\/p>\n Kerr emphasized that these changes are not surprises to Green \u2014 the two have had ongoing conversations about how veteran stars must evolve.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk all the time. He understands where he is in his career and where our team is\u2026 We\u2019ve had really good conversations about how the last couple years of your career usually go, and how you have to adapt and adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Kerr then explained how great players reinvent themselves when athleticism or impact begins to dip:<\/p>\n Magic Johnson<\/strong> learning to shoot more.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Jason Kidd<\/strong> transitioning into a stationary shooter later in his career.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Michael Jordan<\/strong> moving to the post and relying on fadeaways.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tim Duncan<\/strong> shifting from offensive superstar to defensive anchor.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Kerr specifically highlighted Tim Duncan<\/span><\/span><\/strong> as the ideal model<\/em> for aging gracefully \u2014 acknowledging diminished primacy while still contributing in meaningful ways.<\/p>\n Kerr\u2019s comments make it clear:<\/p>\n Without Curry, the Warriors cannot afford a non-scoring forward<\/strong> on the floor in crunch time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Green\u2019s defense is no longer enough to justify closing games when his offensive limitations shrink spacing and scoring options.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This signals a redefining of Green\u2019s role \u2014 potentially the beginning of his transition into a more selective, situational contributor rather than a nightly closer.<\/p>\n Warriors fans can take comfort in one thing: Kerr strongly hinted that the franchise wants Green to end his career in Golden State<\/strong>, likely allowing him a graceful exit rather than pushing him out via trade.<\/p>\n This is not the Warriors turning their back on Green \u2014 it\u2019s the natural evolution of a dynasty aging out of its prime and reallocating responsibilities as needed.<\/p>\n Green will likely have to accept lighter minutes<\/strong> and non-closing roles<\/strong> in certain matchups.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The Warriors will continue experimenting with smaller, faster lineups.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Once Curry returns, roles may shift again \u2014 but the writing is on the wall for Draymond\u2019s long-term role.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The final act of the Warriors dynasty is playing out in real time\u2026 and Green\u2019s adaptation will determine how gracefully that chapter ends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Warriors Adjust Without Stephen Curry as Steve Kerr Explains Why Draymond Green Is Sitting Late in Games The Golden State Warriors have shockingly won two of their… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":151617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-151613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nKerr: \u201cEverything Is Different Without Steph\u201d<\/h2>\n
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Draymond Green Benched in Back-to-Back Wins<\/h2>\n
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Defense Is Also Working Better Without Him<\/h3>\n
\nKerr: Draymond Understands What Stage of His Career He\u2019s In<\/h2>\n
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\nThe Reality: Draymond\u2019s Defense Alone Doesn\u2019t Offset His Offensive Limitations Anymore<\/h2>\n
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\nThe Beginning of the End \u2014 But on Draymond\u2019s Terms<\/h2>\n
What Comes Next?<\/h3>\n
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