Steve Kerr is setting the Warriors up for early failure with rumored lineup

With the Golden State Warriors dealing with an untimely absence from expected starting big man Kristaps Porzingis, head coach Steve Kerr seems to have already adopted his preferred starting five to begin the season, although his rumored lineup plan hardly inspires confidence on his team's ability to mount a good start to their campaign.

As bared by Warriors reporter Dalton Johnson, Kerr appears to be leaning into a starting lineup composed of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green. That is a pretty small configuration typical of the usual lineups deployed by the Dubs, but it definitely feels uninspiring, especially given the opponents they will be facing early on.

Rumored Warriors starting five could doom them right from Day 1

The Warriors most definitely cannot afford to have a slow start in the West, but even at this point, that might be an imminent possibility.

At 6-foot-9, Lendeborg would be the tallest player on that lineup, and he is a rookie. While Green has extensive experience playing as the lone big man, given that he is already 36 years old, having him bang with bigger players inside is probably not a smart way to keep him fresh.

Golden State will see teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, Grizzlies and Timberwolves in their early schedule, and those teams have especially imposing personnel. That will make it highly difficult for the Warriors to win those games, as the size disadvantage could overwhelm them quickly given that all teams are still fresh at this juncture.

Of course, the rumored lineup is only initial, and Kerr is known to change his opening group night in and out as needed. Still, there are less risky configurations to go with, but the longtime coach seems committed to his small-ball approach even though it could push them down the drain early.