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Projected Warriors starting lineup against Lakers in Game 5 of Western Conference Semifinals

By Ian Levy

May 6, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts watching game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts watching game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Warriors have been struggling to find the right rotation to get the upper hand on the Lakers. What will they try to start Game 5?

In the four games of their series against the Lakers, the Warriors have already tried three different starting lineups. Using two non-shooters together, Kevon Looney and Draymond Green, proved to be a problem in Game 1. They gave themselves an offensive and spacing boost by starting JaMychal Green in place of Looney in Game 2 and came away with a win. But the same formula didn’t work in Game 3 and they were forced to adjust again, starting Gary Payton II in place of JaMychal in Game 4. The result was the same — another loss and now a 3-1 deficit with elimination on the horizon.

The battle for the Warriors has been figuring out how to defend Anthony Davis while simultaneously keeping him from mucking up the interior defensively. Inserting Payton actually worked reasonably well and the Warriors were plus-2 in the 22 minutes he played with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Green in Game 4. But it was clearly didn’t solve enough of the Warriors’ problems and it’s possible the Warriors and Steve Kerr try something else new.

Projected Warriors lineup vs. Lakers in Game 5 of West Semifinals

  • Guard — Steph Cury
  • Guard — Klay Thompson
  • Guard — Jordan Poole
  • Forward — Andrew Wiggins
  • Forward — Draymond Green

Kerr hasn’t actually given any indications he’ll insert Poole in the starting lineup, but it’s a risk move that he absolutely has to consider. With his size, mobility and shooting Poole theoretically solves the same problems as Payton, even if he doesn’t offer as much defensive versatility.

Poole has struggled mightily across the entire postseason, shooting just 34.2 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from beyond the arc — which is probably why Kerr went to Payton instead of him in Game 4. He ended up playing just 10 minutes in that game missing all six of his shots.

Still, Poole has much more upside than Payton and the Warriors desperately need him to break out of his slump. Putting him in the starting lineup is a gamble on him and a vote of confidence that he might really appreciate and use to change his mindset and get out of his funk. If he looks rough again early, the Warriors can go right back to Payton and the formula that gave them a chance in Game 4.

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