Draymond Green Does What Steve Kerr Couldn’t for Jonathan Kuminga as 2 Forgotten Warriors Stars Threaten Rockets

Without Jimmy Butler, it was a magical performance from Stephen Curry that helped the Warriors establish a 2-1 lead against the Rockets. But the Warriors didn’t win just because of Curry. A number of role players stuck to their roles and delivered during the anxiety-filled game. One of them was Jonathan Kuminga, who was called upon after virtually being out of the rotation.

Kuminga has been keen to learn from Butler since his arrival. However, being called on to the big stage after such inactivity, there was a blank on his expectations. But the athletic forward quickly settled in. Draymond Green believes in the promise shown by the 22-year-old. And as it happened, he gave him a special shout-out for his tenacity.

“I also wanted to speak about Jonathan Kuminga. His defense starting off on Jalen Green. When you don’t allow a guy to get a rhythm to start the game, that can change the game for offensive players, so also wanted to speak on that. Jonathan Kuminga’s defensive pressure on the ball to start the game was humongous,” he said on the Draymond Green Show.

After Green’s game-winning 38-point performance in Game 2, the Warriors needed somebody to keep him contained. Kuminga’s durability and gritty defense helped the Bay restrict Green’s usage. He only shot the ball 11 times, scoring only nine points. Jonathan Kuminga actively hunted him during sets and gave him no breathing room.

From a scoring perspective, Kuminga didn’t offer the same contributions as Butler. However, he stuck true to fulfilling his role. Using his quickness, he applied heat on every Rockets’ offensive possession. Despite him not being a regular member of the plans, the performance helped Kuminga find some confidence.

Kuminga’s performance in Game 3 came after a stretch of frustration over his limited role. Left out of the lineup during crucial matchups like the season finale against the Clippers and the play-in tournament against the Grizzlies, Kuminga didn’t hide his emotions. “I hate the fact that people are telling me to be ready,” he said on Thursday. “In my mind, I already know that I’m ready. The more you tell me to get ready, it’s kinda irritating.“

Steve Kerr, on his part, explained the decision with blunt honesty. Speaking to 95.7 The Game, Kerr pointed to the arrival of Jimmy Butler as the primary reason Kuminga’s minutes have shrunk.”Mostly, I feel for JK, because I like him. He’s been here for four years, he’s a talented guy,” Kerr said. “But when JK was out, we traded for Jimmy and they play the same position. Basketball doesn’t work that way — you can’t just throw two players together if the puzzle doesn’t fit. We found a formula with Jimmy that worked, and we have to stick with it.”

Although Kerr acknowledged that Kuminga could still be part of the equation later in the playoffs, the situation adds another layer of complexity as the Warriors continue their postseason run.

However, with Draymond Green treating him as his rookie, his encouragement will also help the rising forward stay ready in this series. Playing against a physical team, Steve Kerr did hint at using Kuminga in future games. But he wasn’t the only Warrior to find some optimism in Game 3.

Buddy Hield finds his shooting touch

In the first two games, Buddy Hield had only scored a combined seven points. His struggles, though, started way before the postseason began. But still, Steve Kerr showed trust in the sharpshooter. Turns out his visionary quality struck home once again. In a game that most needed a collaborative effort, Hield stepped up. But Draymond Green saw a different improvement altogether.

“He’s coming up to me like “Ah Dre I should have got you the ball when I when Stephen Adams uh was able to get the steal I need to” and I’m like “Wow Buddy,”. Like that is a huge step in the right direction. Like you’re coming to seek me out to talk about this play. So what Jimmy’s doing must be working,” Green said on his podcast.

Obviously, Green appreciated the impact he had. Missing out on Jimmy Butler, Hield shot the ball with confidence and provided 17 vital points off the bench in the Warriors’ Game 3 victory. It was a sight for sore eyes, especially in the Warriors’ locker room. And Green enjoyed every second of Hield’s galvanizing performance.

“Buddy, honestly, man, he was huge. He hit big shots, timely threes. He hit some very timely threes, and he was good on the defensive end. It was good to see Buddy have that game. Like I said need a collective of guys stepping up, and Buddy was right there in the mix for us. We’re going to need him to continue to play that way,” said Draymond Green.

Aside from the former Kings guard, Gary Payton II, also proved to be a key player. His efficient offense and defensive tenacity bothered the Rockets’ plans. As Jimmy Butler’s participation remains uncertain, having several options in hand is of great help for Kerr and the Warriors. Game 4 gives them a solid opportunity to be one step away from the second round. And the team is bursting with positivity, even if they lack Butler’s experience on the floor.

Do you think the Warriors can repeat their Game 3 performance tomorrow? Let us know your views in the comments below.