The Warriors are the NBA's fourth-best rebounding team. It's hard to believe they'll lose 116-114 to the New York Knicks at chase center. Before their fifth home loss of the season, the Warriors averaged 46.1 rebounds per game. Only three teams are ahead of them — the Memphis Grizzlies, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Greens. In fact, three of the four games the Warriors have lost at home have had less than the league average in rebounds.
The Golden State Warriors were also bullied in rebounds against the Knicks. The Knicks grabbed 51 rebounds, including 16 in the frontcourt, while the Warriors grabbed a total of 38 rebounds and only five in the frontcourt. In the last three games, the Warriors have achieved a record of one win and two losses. In these three games, the Warriors conceded at least 50 rebounds per game, while the game in which they grabbed the most rebounds was 40, against the Thunder.
Not very good. Of course, none of this was Draymond Green. Can his presence alone change the status quo? Steve Cole seems to think so. 'I think yes, Dream Chaser is a player who can change the game.
In the absence of the dream, the Warriors only achieved a record of 12 wins and 6 losses. He is suffering from a back injury. The four-time All-Star-made forward has started shooting training on the sidelines before the game against the Knicks, but he won't be back to the team before the All-Star Game.
In the absence of Dream Chaser, Kerr mainly let Otto Port Jr. play the team's big forward. Porter Jr. took a break from the game, with Cumminga in the starting No. 4 spot. Cole's plan was for Cumminga to use his strength and athleticism against Randall. Some of his plans worked, some didn't.
Cuminga played 36 minutes and 23 seconds, setting a career high. He scored 17 points, tied for second on the team with Clay, behind Stephen Curry with 35 points. His plus-minus is positive 8, second only to Curry's positive 9. "I think Cumminga was very good, did a good job with Randall and gained some valuable experience," Kerr said after the game.
There's no doubt that the 19-year-old gained valuable experience against Randall, who scored 28 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Cumminga, on the other hand, had just 17 points and five rebounds, and didn't score any frontcourt rebounds. In the first three quarters, Cumminga only grabbed 2 rebounds, but in the fourth quarter he played less than a minute, taking 7 points and 3 rebounds. As a warriors small-ball center, he hit some key free throws.
This season, Cumminga has only rebounded in double-doubles in one game, and in second place is seven rebounds, and he has done it three times. Since he came to the Warriors, Kerr has hoped he'll improve in his fight for rebounding, and that will continue to be the focus of Cuminga's progress in the final stages of the regular season and in the playoffs.
Cumminga has exceeded the Warriors' expectations, and he can help the team in the game. But the Warriors need him to do more, like be a reliable rebounder. It will make him more valuable and make the Warriors better now and in the future.