In today’s Dub Hub:

The Golden State Warriors’ once-vaunted strength is being tested given their four-game losing streak. Saturday’s 113-105 loss to the Suns highlighted concerns about the team’s deep roster as head coach Steve Kerr once again relied on a 13-man rotation.

Stephen Curry, who missed one game with bilateral knee tendonitis, scored 23 points in 32 minutes. While the team’s strength helps manage his minutes at age 36 – down to 29.9 minutes per game, the third lowest of his career – Curry points to the need for more “predictable” rotations to help players achieve one Finding rhythm.

After a 12-3 start to the season, the Warriors have slipped to 12-7 and fourth place in the Western Conference standings. With their early lead slowly dissipating, we should expect some adjustments as the Warriors close out the first quarter of the season.

For more on this and other NBA news, check out our latest news roundup for Monday, December 2nd here:

Warriors news:

What changes are needed to the Warriors’ suddenly difficult 13-man rotation? | The athlete

But this balanced approach causes those substitutes who don’t get the extended run they deserve and need for rhythm and routine purposes to lose energy and effort. Kuminga and Moody, two former lottery picks and crucial players to the team’s present and future who are still being minimized as they enter their fourth season, were pretty clearly impacted.

“It’s hard as hell,” Curry said. “There is no way around it. Mo played two minutes tonight. Kyle played seven. Two games ago, Mo had a stretch where he had 15 (points) and then played four minutes in the second half. It’s hard for everyone. The coach’s job is to make these difficult decisions. It’s our job to help him. When you’re not playing, don’t sulk or bring down the locker room. It doesn’t help anyone. Including yourself.”

Steve Kerr explains some of the changes he made to the rotation on Saturday against the Suns

Stephen Curry says knee pain is new, ‘not worried at all’ | ESPN

“It has the potential to be like an annoying thing if you don’t take care of it,” Curry said of the knee pain after the game. “I’m not worried about it, not worried at all. The deeper you get into your career, the more things come up and you just have to figure it out.”

Curry, 36, said Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ vice president of player health and performance, has developed a protocol to get ahead of the problem. Curry said he wasn’t sure if that meant he would have to miss games because of maintenance.

What we learned as Steph struggles with loss to KD, Suns | NBC Sports Bay Area

Curry, Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis played together for the first time and played solidly together, although Kevon Looney replaced Jackson-Davis early in the second half.

Podziemski’s determination has taken a backseat this season as he has struggled to shoot. The way he started Saturday night in Phoenix is ​​exactly what Kerr wants to see. When he went to the bench with 5:50 left, Podziemski already had eight points, two rebounds and an assist, shot a perfect 3 of 3 from the field and made both 3-point attempts with the Warriors leading 18-18 points. 16.

Steph Curry surpasses 24,000 career points after Saturday’s game against the Suns

NBA news:

NBA information: Draft pick protections, franchise picks to keep an eye on | ESPN

Windhorst: Speaking of the Pelicans, in the last two weeks, Williamson and Brandon Ingram have left their respective long-time agents and are in the process of signing with new ones. Unlike Williamson, who has a long-term contract, Ingram and New Orleans are in a stalemate ahead of his unrestricted free agency next summer.

Sources told ESPN that the two sides cannot agree on a contract extension and trade talks have been misaligned since last summer. Finding a place where New Orleans can send Ingram’s $36 million salary and add value while reducing salary is hard enough – the Pelicans are currently subject to the luxury tax for the first time ever and are unlikely to stay there . But the search for a deal with a team where Ingram has no problem signing a new contract has also stalled talks, according to sources.

NBA Free Agency: Early look at the 2025 class, including Jimmy Butler, Myles Turner and more | The athlete

What has made Turner special at times in his career is combining those shots with a role as the anchor of a solid defense, but his once-dominant rim protection has waned somewhat in recent years, although another team might believe he is located in a new ecosystem could lead to the revival of a true NBA unicorn.

Another reason Turner could be a key factor in free agency in 2025 is that he turns 29 just before next offseason. So the team that signs him should have the rest of his prime years, but not many years beyond, reducing some of the risk on the contract. He might also be easier to sign since the Pacers are only about $20 million under the luxury tax line after acquiring Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard this offseason. Paying Turner the market rate will likely require a salary sacrifice or payment of the tax, which opens the door for other suitors to enter the conversation to sign him outright or negotiate a sign-and-trade.

Hornets LaMelo Ball is out for two weeks with a calf strain

In case you missed it on Golden State of Mind:

The Warriors’ “deep” roster has written checks, and Steph Curry and Draymond Green are having trouble cashing them

The on-off stats have never shown how important it is for Curry and Green to be on the floor all the time like they did this season heading into the game against the Phoenix Suns – The Warriors outscored their opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions in 351 minutes of play between the Curry-Green duo. On the other hand, in 293 minutes when Curry and Green both sat, the Warriors were outscored by 0.4 points per 100 possessions – virtually neutral in such minutes. That means the team is 13 points worse per 100 possessions without its two franchise cornerstones.

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