The Golden State Warriors’ season came to an end with a defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were the better team against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5, sealing their 4-1 series victory.
The 121-110 score flattered the Warriors who trailed by an even heavier margin at the end of the third quarter.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr could not figure out his team once Stephen Curry went down with injury in Game 1, finding the superstar to be totally irreplaceable.
Trayce Jackson-Davis started the game amid a re-worked lineup, but lasted only seven minutes.
Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesGilbert Arenas on Trayce Jackson-Davis
Trayce Jackson-Davis was brought into the Warriors team in Game 2 of the series, where Steve Kerr experimented heavily with a 14-man rotation.
Warriors fans had been impressed with his performance, in which he scored 15 points during a 19 minute run.
This saw Steve Kerr play him for 11 minutes in Game 3 and 19 minutes in Game 4, but Jackson-Davis was ineffective.
During these two games Jackson-Davis scored only 12 points and managed five rebounds.
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was not impressed, asking on the Gil’s Arena podcast: “What does he start for at this moment in time? Is he a family friend? Why is he starting?
“He’s not really gonna be effective to the offense,” he added.
Jackson-Davis was again chosen to start Game 5 and lasted only seven minutes, scoring only two points, one close range bucket.
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Arenas was unimpressed with the Warriors options, pointing to Brandin Podziemski failing to bring his best basketball in big games.
“Podziemski, you can see he’s not ready for playoff basketball yet,” Arenas added.
Steve Kerr later commented after Game 5 that he was unhappy with Podziemski lacking confidence and decisiveness, and wants the youngster to fix this heading into his third year.
Arenas added: “Jimmy Butler you got nobody for him to pass the ball to. Everybody just stay home. What are we doing here.”
Warriors looking to improve without big swings
The Golden State Warriors roster is not expected to change substantially next season. This was a factor Stephen Curry admitted after the loss.
But one factor already being discussed is the team’s need for a new center, with Jackson-Davis lacking impact at the highest level.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks has suggested Brook Lopez as a realistic free agency option, while Kendrick Perkins touted a more ambitious trade for Daniel Gafford.
It’s unlikely the Warriors can make big swings, but they need a new center, and another player who can take some pressure off Curry, as they were found seriously wanting in his absence.