The Warriors played their 55th game of the 2024-25 NBA season on Thursday night in Houston, where coach Steve Kerr tried his 33rd different starting lineup and decided to stick with it for now.
However, this lineup might change again because Kerr has made similar statements throughout the season.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler will stay as the core players. In lineup No. 33 against the Rockets, they were joined by Moses Moody, who is undefeated (7-0) as a starter, and Brandin Podziemski, who replaced Buddy Hield, who has been more useful as a decoy this season.
Kerr explained his decision, saying, “Brandin has played so well the last couple weeks that I think he needs to be in that starting group now. He gives Steph another ball handler and decision-maker. He makes a lot of plays out of nothing with his brain and his skill.”
The new lineup provided an early spark, especially considering the Warriors had just played late the previous night in a loss at Dallas and didn’t arrive at their hotel in Houston until 3:30 a.m. Despite this, they were able to build a nine-point lead after the first quarter and extended it to 16 early in the second.
As has happened often this season, the Warriors showed both their best and worst sides. They had a 24-point lead with four minutes left in the third quarter, but as soon as Curry left the game, the team struggled. Kerr then announced that Butler would play “all of the non-Steph minutes” to avoid this issue.
Kerr took a risk by resting Curry, Butler, and Green together, which backfired when Golden State tried a lineup with Kevon Looney, Gui Santos, Pat Spencer, Hield, and Podziemski. The offense faltered, the defense collapsed, and the Rockets went on a 32-10 run, closing the gap to just two points (91-89) with 6:03 left.
In the end, it was Curry, Butler, and Green, the team’s veteran leaders, who guided them to victory, scoring all 12 points in the final four minutes. Green hit a crucial three-pointer, giving the Warriors a nine-point lead with 47 seconds left.
“We let one get away last night, but this one tonight we would have lost,” Green said. “But just having a guy like [Butler] changes everything for us.”
Butler plays a crucial role for the team, contributing by getting to the free-throw line, making key steals, and scoring in the low post. His presence is significant, and while it’s hard to measure, it’s clearly felt.
Steve Kerr talks with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry courtside during a break in the first halfKerr is looking to close games
“We have to learn how to close games,” Kerr said. “We have not done that well, and we didn’t do it well last night, obviously. So that was an important game for us. We think Jimmy’s presence and skill are going to allow us to finish games much better than we have so far this year. Tonight was a good example of that and hopefully a sign of things to come.”
Butler finished with 19 points (13 in the second half), eight rebounds, and four assists. Curry led the game with 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Green added 13 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals, playing 30 minutes, while Curry and Butler each played 35 minutes. This decision was made after consulting with the medical and training staff.
The three veterans seemed energized by their younger teammates in the starting lineup. Podziemski scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half, while Moody scored all 10 of his points, along with two blocks and a steal, before halftime.
Podziemski, for now, will be the main defender, along with Moody and Butler, limiting Houston star Jalen Green to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and forcing four turnovers in 22 minutes.
“It was so good to get him out there,” Kerr said. “I imagine he’s going to be out there now as a starter for a while, obviously with Steph, Jimmy, and Draymond. I thought Moses complemented those guys really well, too.”
“We’ll see how it goes from here. We’ve got [Jonathan Kuminga] coming back, hopefully within a couple of weeks, and so we always have options. But I think BP has got to be out there.”
Will Kerr’s new lineup help the Warriors break out of their recent mediocrity? It combines youth and experience, with all five players bringing multiple skills. It’s built for speed, which the team has struggled to maintain, but it could prove useful.
After learning the hard lesson of never resting Curry and Butler together unless the game is decided, it seems that lineup No. 33 deserves more chances to prove itself.
