"Buddy Hield was the addition, now he is the mission" - Lou Williams believes the Warriors have enough depth to make up for Curry's absence
The NBA playoffs are no place for experimentation, as one wrong move can shift the momentum and change the outcomes of a series. Yet with Stephen Curry sidelined due to a hamstring injury for multiple games, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to use a bold approach, playing 14 players in the first half of Game 2. While many saw this as an act of desperation, Lou Williams viewed this as a calculated decision.
According to the three-time Sixth Man of the Year, Kerr looked for someone who could handle intense playoff pressure to hand them more responsibility in high-stakes scenarios. Moreover, he feels it is time for Buddy Hield to step up and attain the spotlight that his talent warrants.
Williams on the importance of Buddy Hield
After the Warriors were blown out by 24 points in Game 2 without Curry, many feel that the situation will only worsen as the series heads to San Francisco for the next two games.
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However, Lou believes Kerr sacrificed Game 2 strategically, not only to wave the white flag but to identify which players can be leaned on moving forward. Thus, he did not hesitate to use 14 players in a half, a scenario that had happened for the first time since 1998 in the playoffs.
Speaking on the "Run It Back" show, Williams also highlighted how it is time for Hield to take a more serious role. Like how he took over the offensive reins for the team in Game 7 against the Rockets, he needs to take more accountability and responsibility to lead them to victory.
"Honestly, I think Golden State keeps this thing interesting. What Steve Kerr is trying to figure out by playing so many guys, he's trying to figure out who I can lean on, who can I trust, with Steph Curry being out. Now in the next game, I expect that lineup to be sharpened up a little bit, like an eight to nine-man rotation where he can figure out - this guy or that guy - can help me," Williams said.
"With Steph Curry out, Jimmy, Draymond back in the lineup still… Buddy Hield - there's a difference between an addition and being the mission. Buddy was the addition, now he is the mission. He's gonna make his adjustments with the way he's being guarded," the retired guard added.
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Related: "Their egos are huge, and I don't bow down to people like that" - Pippen says he'll never be able to forgive Jordan and Jackson
Hield needs to support Butler
Though highly capable, Jimmy Butler has only had one 35-point game in the 2024-25 regular season. Expecting him to drop 40 on command isn't realistic. Instead, the six-time All-Star can make his presence felt with a well-rounded performance, perhaps a 20-point triple-double, and focus on neutralizing threats like Julius Randle or Jaden McDaniels on defense. That's where Hield's scoring punch becomes even more vital.
Kerr has long built his reputation as a high-IQ coach unafraid to make bold, calculated moves — even when they spark initial skepticism. One key storyline to watch is how he distributes minutes to Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney, who could play pivotal roles down the stretch.
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Moreover, given how well the Championship coach has led this young team this far in the campaign, do not rule him out just yet, as Lou surely believes he is about to pull another rabbit out of a hat.
Related: "Sometimes you get them right" - Warriors owner Joe Lacob admits he had concerns regarding acquiring Jimmy Butler
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