Without Payton, Warriors reveal starting lineup for Game 3 against Memphis
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Rookie Jonathan Kuminga
becomes youngest starter in playoff game in more than 50 years
>MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MAY 3: The Golden State Warriors, including
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30), huddle before Game 2 of an
NBA basketball second-round Western Conference playoff series against
the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday,
May 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
>MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MAY 3: The Golden State Warriors, including
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30), huddle before Game 2 of an
NBA basketball second-round Western Conference playoff series against
the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday,
May 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
By SHAYNA RUBIN | srubin@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 7, 2022 at 5:13 p.m. | UPDATED: May 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/05/07/without-payton-warriors-reveal-starting-lineup-for-game-3-against-memphis/

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors face a tall task replacing Gary Payton II,
who started both games of this semifinal in Memphis. Penciling in rookie
Jonathan Kuminga into the starting lineup is the Warriors’ counter.

Kuminga, at age 19, is the youngest NBA player to start a playoff game
since starting lineups were officially tracked in the 1970-71 season,
according to ESPN Stats and Info.

Kuminga’s minutes had been increasing during this series. After
averaging six minutes in four games against the Denver Nuggets, Kuminga
is averaging 15 minutes per game against the Grizzlies because he
matches up well with Memphis’ athleticism.

“With guys like (Brandon) Clarke and (Jaren) Jackson Jr., they are super
athletic along their front lines,” head coach Steve Kerr said before the
game. “He’s had several plays where he’s played behind the defense in
the dunker spot and got a couple of lobs from Draymond (Green). He’s
finished some plays for us. Memphis is a very good defensive team. They
fly around and you need guys that can finish quickly and he’s one of them.”

With the series evened 1-1, Memphis center Steven Adams is back in
action from health and safety protocols but not starting. The Warriors
decided to go with athleticism instead of size to begin Game 3 on
Saturday at Chase Center. Here’s the lineup:

Steph Curry

Klay Thompson

Jonathan Kuminga

Andrew Wiggins

Draymond Green

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are starting:

Ziaire Williams

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Xavier Tillman

Desmond Bane

Ja Morant

Payton is a strong point-of-attack defender and was the Warriors’ best
option to take on Ja Morant. With Payton now sideline with an elbow
fracture sustained on a hard foul by Dillon Brooks in Game 2, the
Warriors are scrambling to come up with some answers to contain the
Grizzlies star.

Kuminga might get twisted up on defense, but he adds a unique vertical
scoring dynamic and matches up fine against a relatively undisciplined
Memphis defense. He’s getting the starting nod over Poole, who started
all five games in the first round against Denver but has been coming off
the bench against the Grizzlies, and over center Kevon Looney, who
started 80 games in the regular season.

Payton’s absence will likely open up the rotation beyond Kuminga, too.
Damion Lee saw non-garbage playing time in Payton’s absence in Game 2
and Looney could see his playing time increase, staggering with Green.

For his Flagrant 2 foul against Payton, Brooks was suspended for Game 3.
Brooks was the primary defender on Steph Curry, but guard D’Anthony
Melton has played strong defense against the Warriors star, too.

With Brooks suspended, Memphis is also starting a rookie in Williams,
who attended Stanford for his lone collegiate year. The Grizzlies took
Williams with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft — three picks
after the Warriors took Kuminga.

--
Shayna Rubin | Oakland Athletics reporter