Klay Thompson. Steph Curry. Jordan Poole. All sharing the backcourt at some point?
Get ready for it. After watching Poole score 32 points off the bench Monday night, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters he has thought about the three shooters sharing the floor together.
“I’m sure that’ll happen,” Kerr said. “It’ll be a great shooting lineup. When Klay comes back, we’ve got a lot of different combinations that we’re going to look at.”
Which got me thinking, what other fun lineups can Kerr trot out with Thompson back in the fold? It’s “possible” the Splash Brother could return to the court as soon as Sunday, according to Kerr.
Check out some fun five-man groupings that the 29-7 Warriors could use with Thompson on the floor.
Starting Five
Steph Curry
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Kevon Looney
Draymond Green
Barring injuries, this is the most-likely quintet to be on the floor when Thompson returns to action at Chase Center, whether it be Sunday or at a later date. Adding Thompson’s long frame in place of Poole or Gary Payton II will bring another dimension to the defense, though it remains to be seen how Klay can handle the rigors of guarding game-speed NBA superstars.
Death Lineup
Steph Curry
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Draymond Green
Personally, this is the five I am most eager to see on the floor together. Smallball and scoring everywhere – except for Draymond, who is running the show on offense and taking the other team’s big fella on defense. The offensive potential here excites me the most.
Throwback Lineup
Steph Curry
Klay Thompson
Andre Iguodala
Draymond Green
Kevon Looney
This was the Warriors starting five for Thompson’s most recent NBA game – coming in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. It could be something of a full-circle moment to see Klay play with these four guys again, and there would surely be some synergy on the court.
Shorter Hamptons Five
Steph Curry
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Andre Iguodala
Draymond Green
Substitute JP for KD – Jordan Poole for Kevin Durant – and you get a shorter Hamptons 5 in 2022. The scoring would likely be divided among Steph, Klay and Poole, but watching Iguodala and Green work their magic on both ends would be a treat, too.
Otto-mattic Lineup
Steph Curry
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Otto Porter Jr.
This one might be a bit of a stretch, but the NBA continues to play positionless basketball. Each and every guy on the floor would be a threat from beyond the arc.
Steph-free Lineup
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Kevon Looney
Draymond Green
Curry might get some rest days in the second half of the season. This lineup would allow Poole to do his best Steph impersonation and see how could fit with the normal starters.
Shooters shoot Lineup
Steph Curry
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Otto Porter Jr.
Nemanja Bjelica
How fun would this be? Literally every dude on the floor would be capable of being a stone cold shooter. Porter and Beli might have their hands full on defense with opposing big men, but this would be a shooter’s delight.
Defensive Lineup
Gary Payton II
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Andre Iguodala/Otto Porter Jr.
Draymond Green
Switch city. Again, these would be undersized lineups without Looney in the mix, but the NBA seems like it keeps getting smaller. The defensive versatility here would be unique.
Next Gen Lineup
Steph Curry
Jordan Poole
Klay Thompson
Jonathan Kuminga
James Wiseman
Wiseman, of course, needs to get healthy first for this to happen. Finding someone to direct the offense might be a bit of a problem here, but this would be entertaining to watch. The Splash Brothers and franchise’s future running in the same five.
