Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admitted that using 12 players in the NBA opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night is as deep of a team he has ever coached.
Moses Moody was introduced at the start of the second quarter, and he was the 12th player to get game time against the Blazers.
The Dubs registered a thumping 139-104 win to kick off their new season in style and Kerr indicated that they are going to rely on their bench strength.
“This is as deep of a team as I’ve ever coached, and we’ve got to lean into that,” Kerr said after the Warriors’ 139-104 win. “I’ve never played 12 before, but we’re going to do it.
“I was thinking, well, maybe I’ll just play 10 and we’ll have to tell two of these guys that they’re going to sit. But I just couldn’t justify that.”
GSW started with Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, a group which Kerr is expected to back for the majority of the season.
“It’s the identity of this team right now,” Curry said. “We’re going to rely on our depth.”
“This is the deepest team I’ve ever been on,” Wiggins said.
Meanwhile, Buddy Hield was the first man off the bench and he scored 22 points for the Warriors. Curry showered praise on Hield for delivering for the team.
“Without Klay, we needed shooting. Well, we needed shooting anyways,” Curry said. “We know what his skillset is. We know what he’s capable of doing. It’s been a very seamless transition so far.
Steph Curry scored 17 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and nearly had a triple double whereas Andrew Wiggins added 20 points.
The Warriors will next take on the Utah Jazz on Friday.
