Cole stopped pretending, Kuming strengthened his momentum and slapped Cole in the face!

The Warriors lost to the Timberwolves 97-102 in G3 in the Western Conference semi-finals. Despite the loss, Kuminga's outstanding performance of scoring 30 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists became the biggest highlight. Why did this young forward who was once hidden by Cole fall out of rotation? Can his outbreak completely change his future position in the Warriors? Now let’s analyze why Kumingga was hidden and what his future for the Warriors will be like.

1. Three reasons why Kumingga was hidden by Kohl

1. Tactical adaptability contradiction: conflict between the pass-and-cut system and personal play style

Kor's long-term support for the pass-and-cut system emphasizes running without the ball, quickly transfer the ball and accurate projection, while Kumingga's advantages lie in breaking through with the ball, ending the singles and physical confrontation. When Kumingga and Butler appeared together in the regular season this season, the Warriors' net efficiency value was -6.8. If Green is added, the trio's net efficiency value plummeted to -26. Kumingga's unball running awareness is weak, his three-point shooting percentage is only 30.8% (regular season), and his lack of support ability, resulting in congestion in offensive space when he was on the court, becoming a "stumbling block" in the pass and cut system.

2. Dispute on the priority of defensive positioning and rotation

Although Kumingga has excellent single-defense capabilities (such as restricting stars such as Tatum and Alexander), his defensive position selection and coordination awareness are not yet mature. Cole trusts experienced veterans Wiggins and Payton Jr., especially in defensive deployments in key rounds. Before G3, Wiggins recovered in form (20+ efficient performances in two consecutive games), further compressing Kumingga's playing time.

3. Psychological gap and communication barriers

Kumingga has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with role positioning and even put pressure on management through the media, which conflicts with the "team first" culture advocated by Cole. Cole emphasized: "Players should actively communicate with the coach, rather than letting public opinion dominate." In addition, the Warriors' record fluctuated this season (once fell out of the play-off zone), and Cole tended to rely on the veteran's "stability" rather than risking the use of the immature Kumingga.

2. G3 explosion: A typical case of talent breaking through the constraints of the system

Although the Warriors lost, Kumingga's performance proved his influence on the game:

The ball-holding lethality: 11 of 18 shots in the game, with a breakthrough efficiency of up to 66.7%. He ignored defense and made a strong offense many times, and scored 12 points in the final quarter, demonstrating the Warriors' scarce hard-solving ability.

Space Resilience: The three-pointer from 3 out of 4 on the outside responded to the opponent's shorting strategy. Although the sample is small, the increase in projection confidence is worthy of recognition.

*Defensive elasticity: Contributes 2 blocks, effectively limiting his breakthrough route when replacing Edwards, showing his defensive potential at multiple positions.

The key to Cole's tactical loosening: Curry's absence forced the Warriors to adjust their tactics, reduce the pass-through ratio, and allow Kumingga to play singles out of the system. This temporary strategy of "de-Cordoization" has instead activated his original talent.

3. Future positioning: The X factor of the Warriors' reconstruction

1. Short-term: The tactical status may be improved, but compromise needs to be compromised

Kor has admitted that Kumingga's "power and finishing ability are irreplaceable" and has tried to give him more ball-holding rights in the "Three Forwards + Splash" lineup. However, Kumingga needs to improve his off-ball running and three-point stability (current three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs is 33%), otherwise it will be difficult to survive from the system for a long time.

2. Renewal Game: The tug-of-war between the demand for maximum salary and the team's budget

Kumingga's team hopes to sign a maximum salary of 225 million in five years (refer to Barnes and Wagner), but the Warriors are only willing to provide 135 million in five years, and the two sides have huge differences. If the contract renewal fails, the Warriors may use it as a bargaining chip for immediate combat power (such as pursuing Butler or Johnson).

3. Long-term prospects: staying at the core of the team or rebirth with the team

Staying at the team may: If the Warriors give up the transformation of the pass-cut system (such as Green's retirement or Curry fades out), Kumingga is expected to become the new core. Its physical talent and frame attack ability are in line with modern basketball trends, but mid-distance and support skills are required.

Trading Risk: If the Warriors stick to the existing system, Kumingga may repeat Wiseman's mistakes. However, compared with other teams (such as the Rockets and Magic), the pressure of the Warriors to compete for the championship may limit their growth space. If the Warriors still have to adhere to their previous system and style of play, with Curry as the core, the Warriors will most likely take the opportunity to rely on Kumingga's excellent performance in the playoffs to get an immediate combat star, otherwise the contract expires.

Conclusion: The ultimate game between talent and system

Kuminga's rise reveals the deep contradiction between the Warriors' alternation between old and new: the halo of the transmission and cutting system is gradually fading, and the talents of the new generation need a more free soil. The G3 outbreak may just be the beginning, but whether it can truly win Cole's long-term trust depends on whether he can find a balance between "team basketball" and "personal edge". Regardless of the outcome, Kumingga's future will depend on the Warriors/Koll's future plan for the team.