BOSTON — Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga may have a lot to learn, but his physical gifts can’t be taught. At 6-foot-7, 225 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan and a 40-inch vertical leap, he’s not just Golden State’s most athletic player — he’s one of the most athletic players in the NBA. .
As Warriors head coach Steve Kerr considered tactical adjustments for Game 4 of the Finals at TD Garden on Friday, he might have found himself thinking about the length, speed and ability of Kuminga jump. If the Celtics have proven anything on their way to a 2-1 series lead, it’s that they’re bigger, stronger and more athletic than Golden State. Giving Kuminga a meaningful run in Game 4, while risky, might have been a smart bet.
His mere presence could give the Warriors a much-needed balance to the high-flying exploits of Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams III. Coming out in transition, throwing a few alley-oop dunks, or fighting Brown or Williams on the low block, Kuminga could help Golden State regain some momentum.
Kuminga’s rookie learning curve makes him a starring spot in the Finals a dicey proposition, but Kerr might have little other choice. Sticking to the same rotation that caused the Warriors to lose 16 points in Game 3 would be a lot riskier than giving a 19-year-old a few high-stakes minutes. Kerr needs to turn things around, and he doesn’t have an option available to match the infamous adjustment he made in Game 4 of the 2015 Finals.
By replacing Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with Andre Iguodala in those Finals, Kerr changed the trajectory of the series and propelled the Warriors to their first NBA title in four decades. Kuminga’s insertion into the rotation on Friday was unlikely to have that kind of advantage. But given how bullied Golden State was on the glass and in the paint in Game 3, Kuminga presents some intriguing possibilities.
“It’s always a possibility,” Kerr said of the game against Kuminga. “You never rule anything out. It’s something we discuss every day as staff. Do we need to insert another player into the rotation? Do we need to change a line-up combination? It’s all discussed, and we just make the best decision we think can be made and roll with it.
Many times in the regular season, Kuminga has helped the Warriors simply by being long and athletic. It’s worth seeing if he can do the same now. It doesn’t need to log on for more than 20 minutes. A five- or six-minute appearance from Kuminga could be enough for the Warriors to increase their strength and undo some of the Celtics’ athleticism.
To make that possible, Kerr could give Kuminga the three first-half minutes he gave Nemanja Bjelica and the significant two minutes he gave Iguodala in Game 3. Bjelica may not be not athletic enough to be a major factor in this series, and although Iguodala is savvy, his health issues make him a liability at this stage of his career.
Kuminga offers much more potential for good things to happen. And if he struggles or looks overwhelmed, Kerr can fire him before he hurts the Warriors too much.
There’s a reason Kuminga entered Friday without seeing a meaningful run in these finals. The Warriors had outscored opponents by 15.7 more points per 100 possessions in the playoffs with him off the floor than with him on it, a testament to his error-prone tendencies.
But at this point in the series, Kuminga could be the best way for Kerr to match the Celtics’ athleticism and surprise Boston head coach Ime Udoka.
“JK started a few games,” Kerr said. “We had Moses Moody there at key times. I think it’s part of the training and the responsibility of our staff, just think about what we think are the best combinations and the best matchups and then go from there.
Connor Letourneau is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]: @Con_Chron
