Warriors Bench, Returning Starters Could Meet at Exactly the Right Time

The Warriors came away from their Wednesday night game against the Kings with nothing but disappointment. The loss, in which they blew an 18-point lead and crumbled down the stretch, seemed to reinforce all of their bad habits and confirm they aren’t a complete team.

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 22: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 22, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Then, they played the Bulls.

In a complete turnaround, Golden State erupted against Chicago on Thursday night, just twenty four hours removed from the harsh defeat  to Sacramento. While one win against a bad team typically doesn’t mean much in the NBA, for the Warriors it represents a lot of hope.

That’s not because of the fact that they won, but rather how they won. The team got a ton of help from their bench, something that hasn’t happened in a long time, played unselfish basketball, and showed how well they can run with a complete roster.

A Much-Needed Spark

In what became a laugher, the Warriors took care of Chicago 131-106 at home. Though things were still close at the end of the first half, Golden State came out swinging in the second and put the Bulls away a few minutes into the fourth quarter.

Surprisingly, the points largely came on the back of the bench. While Curry did his usual song and dance, scoring 21 and making his NBA-record 3,900th three pointer to further cement himself as the best shooter in history, the Warriors bench made eighteen threes as well.

That alone is worth noting because one of Golden State’s biggest issues over the last month and a half is the lack of depth. Their second unit has not played well, and anytime their starters sit things go downhill quickly.

That was the case against the Kings, but it wasn’t an issue against Chicago. Everyone stepped up, moving the ball, finding the open man, and playing strong defense. That’s worth praising, especially if it becomes the new norm.

Reasons for Hope

While everyone contributed during the Warriors’ big night, the two names that stood out were Gui Santos and Quinten Post. Both players contributed in a meaningful way, and helped pave the way for Golden State’s victory.

Santos scored a career-high 19 points on a strong 7-of-10 shooting. He made 5 of 6 threes and added 7 rebounds for good measure. He’s now scored double-digits in four of his last eight games.

Post followed in Santos’ footsteps, by also putting up a career-high. He scored 20 points in 20 minutes, and sank 5 of 10 three pointers. His five rebounds and three assists showed he’s more than just a scorer too.

The rookie now has scored 14, 15, and 20 in his last three games. He moves well, and does a great job at stretching the floor. Those attributes are incredibly important for a team searching for someone to step up.

Both youngsters are important to watch because a team with Stephen Curry just needs a few strong rotation players to get going. The Warriors have had many struggles, but they’re not too far out of the playoff race. It’s easy to count them out, but if their supporting cast comes together things might change in a hurry.

Time for Reinforcements

Another reason the Warriors were optimistic against the Bulls is that Brandin Podziemski returned from his abdominal injury after missing 12 games. He came in and immediately made an impact, finishing with 10 points and a +7 plus-minus.

The wing didn’t play for any extended period of time, but he looked strong when he did get onto the floor. His return is yet another piece of the puzzle, providing the Warriors with even more hope in the coming weeks.

They are currently dealing with several injuries, including ones to Jonathan Kuminga, Kyle Anderson, and Draymond Green. Getting those players back alongside a full Podziemski could be a huge boon if everything else on the roster comes together.

Finding the Right Pieces

The Bulls game is just a single victory, but it’s one that has to give head coach Steve Kerr hope. The ex-player has taken a lot of blame for the Warriors recent struggles, mainly due to his inability to rally the team and constant shifting of the starting lineup.

While things might be looking up, choosing who to play is not getting any easier. Both Santos and Post have proven their abilities, but they don’t have a spot just yet. On top of that, many of the Warriors’ injured starters are set to return next month.

It’s a lot to juggle, and there’s no easy decision to make. Though Kerr has stated he wants to move Dennis Schroder on the bench in favor of Buddy Hield, there’s a lot of names that could get playing time while Curry rests. Either way, no matter what Kerr ultimately decides to do, having too many strong players is a problem he’s happy to have.