{"id":170777,"date":"2022-12-28T15:43:49","date_gmt":"2022-12-28T15:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/jonathan-kuminga-is-emerging-into-a-defensive-force-for-the-warriors\/"},"modified":"2022-12-28T15:43:49","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T15:43:49","slug":"jonathan-kuminga-is-emerging-into-a-defensive-force-for-the-warriors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/jonathan-kuminga-is-emerging-into-a-defensive-force-for-the-warriors\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Kuminga is emerging into a defensive force for the Warriors"},"content":{"rendered":"
SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 The Hornets melted away the Warriors’ 18-point second-half lead completely. It was tied at 101 with just over three minutes left. Charlotte had possession. The ball found its way to PJ Washington in the corner.<\/p>\n
Washington is a skilled big. He launches 3s and hits them at a capable clip, but doesn’t have too explosive a first step. He wants space and, in this instance, tried to jab step Jonathan Kuminga, his defender, away a couple of times to get it.<\/p>\n
But Kuminga wasn’t giving him room to breathe. He’s quicker laterally than Washington and increasingly aggressive, buying into his role as one of the Warriors ‘go-to individual defenders. As Washington sent those few soft jab steps at him, Kuminga only nudged closer and grew more invasive. Washington left the ball exposed. Kuminga ripped it away.<\/p>\n
That steal was among the most popular postgame topics after the Warriors closed out a needed 110-105 win. The quotes that emerged on Kuminga’s defense from two of the loudest and most influential voices in the room raise an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looked like Andre Iguodala on that play,\u201d head coach Steve Kerr said. \u201cThat’s an Andre-type play. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Andre’s been mentoring him throughout the season and last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was will,\u201d Draymond Green said. \u201cThat was ‘I want the ball more than you.’ That was ‘Our backs are against the wall. We’ve lost the lead. Let me go make a play myself.’ So he took the ball. He goes and gets a dunk. He goes and snatches a rebound in traffic. He made every play down the stretch. I think it all started with that play with PJ Washington taking the ball. He manhandled him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kuminga played the entire fourth quarter. He wouldn’t have if Andrew Wiggins had been available. But Wiggins ‘extended absence has cracked the door wider for Kuminga and he has taken a firmer grip on a rotation spot in the last couple of weeks because of his point-of-attack defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went with him for his defense,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cHe’s playing really well defensively and he was guarding LaMelo (Ball).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment \u2014 fourth quarter,\u201d Kuminga admitted, \u201cI don’t usually get to be in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n