All of the sudden, the Warriors have too many guards.
Steph Curry is back, cleared from his quadriceps contusion and ready to roll on Friday against the Timberwolves. De’Anthony Melton hasn’t missed a beat since his return from ACL surgery. Brandin Podziemski is coming off a 21-8-7 gem in Chicago. Pat Spencer emerged over the Warriors’ road trip, cementing himself within Steve Kerr’s rotation. Will Richard has started 12 of the Warriors’ 25 games, Moses Moody remains an option at the point of attack, Gary Payton II is old reliable, and Seth Curry is bound to run split action with his older brother at some point.
Kerr can’t play everyone. Buddy Hield, shooting a career-low 30.5% from deep, would seem like a logical odd man out.
Not so fast.
“Lot of guys who can play,” Kerr said. “And the thing that I like about it is it creates competition. What Buddy has done over the last five, six games — Buddy’s a guy who understands the league.”
What Hield understands, Kerr elaborated, is that everyone’s always gunning for your job. He has played 10 NBA seasons, in a variety of roles, and knows what it takes to earn minutes. He knows livelihoods are always on the line.
Despite his 3-point shooting struggles, he’s not ready to let go of the rope. Quite the opposite.
“Everybody’s coming for everybody’s minutes,” Hield told The Standard as he was getting a fade in the barbershop attached to the Warriors’ locker room.
Today
2 days ago
6 days ago
“There’s limited time out there. Cream rises to the top. It comes down to who wants it the most. How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to give extra effort? How much are you wiling to battle for loose balls? How much are you going to crash for other possessions? Not everybody.”
At some point, Hield will have to make shots. He’s convinced that many of his misses this season have been in-and-outs, and that he’s a few inches away from turning 2-for-9s into 5-for-9 nights. His track record suggests as much, too; since Hield entered the league in 2016, only Curry has made more 3-pointers.
Hield is a career 39.5% 3-point shooter. The type of flame-thrower capable of hitting nine of 11 treys in Game 7 to close out the Rockets last year. That’s not a player the Warriors’ coaching staff will easily move away from.
“My shot has felt good, they’re just not staying down,” Hield said. “Got to keep grinding. I’ve got myself in great shape where I can play on both sides of the ball. And I feel like things are going to turn, you know? Making shots is a big thing, a big deal, but I feel like that’ll all come into play and align together at the right time, when it’s most needed. And I feel like I’m making a step.”
A couple weeks ago, Kerr challenged Hield to cut down on his turnovers. The issue was team-wide, but Hield’s miscues stood out. He’d make one-handed passes or cough up the ball in the backcourt. He was averaging 1.2 turnovers in just 17.6 minutes through his first 17 games.
Since then, that number is down to 0.8 in 21.6 minutes per game.
Hield has made a more conscious effort to avoid the “home run” plays and operate more off two feet. He did so as Jimmy Butler, his love-hate buddy in the locker room, often ribbed him for his mistakes.
“Oh, Jimmy turns the ball over — I think he has more turnovers than me,” Hield said. (Fact check: true). “Jimmy doesn’t take good care of the ball. I thought he did, but he be making more dumb plays than me.”
Hield’s shot still hasn’t come around yet, but everything else is trending upward. Decision-making, defense, effort. His work ethic and commitment have never been in question.
Hield and Jimmy Butler developed immediate chemistry after Butler joined Golden State last season. | Source: Abbie Parr/Associated Press
In fact, Hield took a red-eye to Philadelphia for the start of last week’s road trip because he had to tend to a family matter. He played all 82 games last season and suited up for 84 the year prior.
“I just love my job,” Hield said. “And I want to be there for my teammates, show my team that I’m there for them no matter what. Everybody goes through their situations different. Some guys take three, four days off. I just hate missing games. I want to be there for my teammates. Being on the road trip, me being there with my positive energy, attitude, effort, helps us go through with these guys.”
Those guys recognize Hield’s presence. But just because he’s well-liked doesn’t mean they aren’t gunning for his minutes.
Curry is penciled in for his 32-plus minutes, but everything behind him is pretty much up for grabs. There are about eight other guards on the depth chart, and only five or six will be able to slot into the rotation.
“Thankfully we have a lot of great personalities that are well-equipped to handle whether it goes your way or not,” Curry said. “Because we’re all pretty together. I think we all understand you’re not going at anybody, but the competition is healthy for our team to figure out how to win at the highest level. Most of those guys have been in that position throughout their careers anyway.”
Kerr likes Melton in virtually every lineup combination, but he’ll come off the bench in an effort to manage his minutes through the season. Podziemski has looked more aggressive with his shot lately and is back in his optimal role, as a secondary initiator. Spencer’s bravado and pick-and-roll mastery gives the Warriors a new look. Payton has proven that he works with Curry, point-blank. Moody and Richard represent two-way threats and Seth has been able to get buckets in the league for a decade.
“It’s a competition,” Hield said. “A lot of guys are back. I love competition. I got to do what it takes to be on the floor. Whatever it takes to be on the floor, I want to do that.”
