When it comes to the NBA Playoffs, benches often do not have as much sway in the outcome of a game compared to the regular season. However, it is important to have players off the bench who can come up big in clutch moments.
While the Golden State Warriors have the most potent starting five in the NBA, their bench in the 2018-19 regular season has been questionable. After two series of being carried by their starters, the injuries to Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins meant the reserves would have more important roles against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals.
How have young players such as Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell transformed themselves from playoff liabilities into players vital to Golden State’s trip to its fifth-straight NBA Finals?
Quinn Cook
Cook always seemed destined to have a role in the playoffs. A winner at every point in his career, the Duke product has been clutch since his youth days. While he has shown the ability to shoot the ball throughout the season (40.5 percent from three in the regular season), opportunities have been few because he plays behind All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry and seasoned veteran Shaun Livingston.
However, with Curry experiencing sporadic foul trouble and Livingston playing inconsistently in the first two rounds, coach Steve Kerr decided to trust Cook, and his play has given him continued opportunities in the Western Conference Finals.
Against the Blazers, Cook is averaging 5.0 points per game while shooting an effective field goal percentage of 56.3 percent and maintaining a defensive rating of 84.9.
Alfonzo McKinnie
It has been a whirlwind of a professional career for McKinnie. After starting his playing days in Germany’s second professional division, McKinnie progressed to unexpectedly making the Warriors’ opening night roster.
After an up-and-down season in which McKinnie’s playing time fluctuated — going from games as a spot starter to DNPs — much speculation developed about what his role would be in the postseason. While most knew that McKinnie would play, the quality of those minutes could change how quickly the Warriors would get to the NBA Finals.
McKinnie answered the call by averaging an offensive efficiency of 116.9 against the Blazers. Additionally, his performance in the series-clinching Game 4 as a starter in the place of the injured Andre Iguodala was nothing short of commendable. Not only did he score 12 points, but he also secured two clutch offensive rebounds in overtime, giving extra opportunities for Golden State to drain the remaining life out out Portland.
Jordan Bell
Despite the time spent in Kerr’s doghouse over various points during his second NBA season, Bell got another chance to prove himself. So far, it has paid off greatly, allowing him to even start the second half of Game 3 and Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. He has been much more efficient, putting up very similar numbers, despite receiving just about half of the minutes compared to the previous postseason.
Bell has shown great energy and intellect on defense throughout the series, something that has not been consistent throughout the year, evidenced by his block while guarding Blazers guard Damian Lillard during Game 3.
While all of these players are not deemed integral to this Warriors’ success, their contributions have been invaluable toward helping Golden State stomach the losses of key players. If they can continue their strong play, expect the Warriors to easily hoist yet another Larry O’Brien trophy.
