Warriors' search for a starting shooting guard is over

Melton missed six games early on with a back injury but has looked great since returning. His performance Sunday was significant for the Warriors since Kerr has been looking to fill the starting shooting-guard role all season. So far, Wiggins, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III and Gary Payton II have all started games at shooting guard. 

The Warriors' changing around of lineups has been about early season injuries as much as it has been about experimenting with fit. The Warriors need a starting shooting guard who can play three essential roles in their starting lineup: space the floor with three-point shooting, guard the opposing team's best guard and take some of the ball-handling pressure off of Stephen Curry. Melton proved on Sunday that he can do all three. 

"I think it gives us a really good two-way lineup," Kerr said, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "You saw what [Melton] could do at both ends. He’s a really good passer, an excellent 3-point shooter [and] a really good on-ball defender as well." 

"I would like for that starting group that was out there tonight," he added, "I would like for that group to be our group going forward."

With a starting lineup and clearer depth-chart hierarchy, the Warriors are entering their next phase of the season ready to build some continuity. Their big win against the Thunder was a message to the rest of the league that they are a legitimate force in the West. They're off to an incredible 8-2 start despite battling injuries and lineup uncertainty. 

With their starting shooting-guard spot clear for the foreseeable future, they will only get better, which should scare the rest of the league.