Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made a pair of adjustments to his starting lineup ahead of Game 6, opting to start Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II in place of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski.
But with a pivotal Game 7 looming, further changes could be on the horizon, reports Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
According to Slater, one of Golden State’s strategic goals has been to involve Houston center Alperen Şengün in defensive actions centered around Stephen Curry, exploiting potential mismatches.
However, the Rockets have countered effectively by deploying zone defenses that help shield Şengün from being isolated in those situations.
As a result, the Warriors haven’t been able to generate the offensive advantages they were aiming for.
Given that dynamic, Slater notes that veteran big man Kevon Looney could be in line for an increased role in Sunday’s matchup, particularly to match up more effectively with Rockets center Steven Adams.
Looney saw just two minutes of playing time in Game 6, but his physical presence and experience might be called upon to stabilize Golden State’s frontcourt in the series finale.
Warriors Notes: Butler, Lineup Changes, Looney, Kuminga, Game 7 https://t.co/YImlqOPz7M pic.twitter.com/tv19uT6WT1
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 4, 2025
