De’Anthony Melton “out” for the rest of the season, Steve Kerr has no shortage of solutions to replace him, but the Warriors coach has found the right balance this season between his first five and his “second unit”, and he therefore chose… Lindy Waters III. Recovered on the evening of the Draft, at the end of his worst career season at 7 minutes of play on average at the Thunder, the American found himself propelled as a starter. Enough to prove Mike Dunleavy Jr. right who saw in him a player who “c+corresponds to all the qualities we are looking for. Size, shooting, but not only that. He plays on both ends of the pitch, he cuts. He plays the style we want to play.”
“We have a lot of guys who can fill that role”acknowledges Lindy Waters III at NBC Sports Bay Area. “When you have Steph [Curry], [Draymond Green]Trayce [Jackson-Davis] et [Andrew Wiggins]you can put anyone as a fifth starter and he will be good. » Since Wednesday, the former Thunder shooter has settled into the starting five, and Steve Kerr warns that he has no intention of changing.
A real “3-and-D”
“I committed to it from now on”assure Steve Kerr. “He’s good with this group, I like bringing Buddy out [Hield] from the bench. Lindy’s tenure allows us to keep the bench intact and gives us one more shooter and another defender in the starting five. »
To relieve Stephen Curry, it is Waters (1m98, 27 years old) who takes care of the best opposing backs, like Trae Young on Wednesday or Chris Paul on Saturday evening. “Lindy plays well”summarizes Draymond Green. “He always knows where he needs to be, he knows the defensive rotations and the tasks to be done, he knows how to get in space. We trust him. We have no doubt that he will continue to play well for us as a starter.”
| Lindy Waters III | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | OKC | 25 | 19 | 40.6 | 36.3 | 80.0 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.0 |
| 2022-23 | OKC | 41 | 13 | 39.3 | 35.8 | 80.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 5.2 |
| 2023-24 | OKC | 38 | 7 | 47.1 | 43.5 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| 2024-25 | GOS | 13 | 15 | 44.8 | 38.5 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 5.3 |
| Total | 117 | 13 | 41.9 | 37.7 | 82.8 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 5.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
Morocco
