Lakers News: Steve Kerr Shakes Up Warriors' Starters After Game 1 Loss
It looks like your Los Angeles Lakers have inspired a bit of panic out of Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Per Marc Stein, Kerr has removed starting center Kevon Looney from his starting lineup, opting to bring in theoretical floor-spacing power forward/center JaMychal Green. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green will continue to comprise the rest of the Warriors' first five.
ESPN's Malika Andrews notes that Green has started in just one game for Golden State this year, between the regular season and playoffs. Green averaged just 6.4 points on .540/.378/.776 shooting splits and 3.6 rebounds across the 57 games he did suit up for the Warriors during the regular season.
The 32-year-old had been pretty much out of the rotation for Golden State in its seven-game first round Sacramento Kings series. He averaged zero points and 1.3 rebounds a game in 4.9 mop-up minutes across just three contests against Sacramento. Against the Lakers, he was reinserted into Golden State's rotation on Tuesday, scoring six points on 2-of-4 three-pointers (the only field goals he took) in 7:45.
This seems like a drastic step, given that JaMychal Green has been borderline unplayable for the Warriors most of the year thanks to his erratic defense. Looney scored 10 points and pulled down a whopping 23 rebounds in the Warriors' 117-112 Game 1 loss to the Lakers, but couldn't keep up with Los Angeles five Anthony Davis, who dominated the paint all night to the tune of a 30-point, 23-rebound, five-assist, four-block evening.
Per Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times, Looney is also apparently sick, but intends to play through it somewhat. This is dangerous terrain for the Warriors, who already at a considerable size disadvantage to a big LA front line.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, will trot out its familiar starting five of D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis.
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