Preseason rotation experiments nearly stole Golden State a game in Honolulu. With 27.5 seconds remaining on October 4, the Warriors had erased a 13-point deficit and grabbed a one-point lead against the Clippers.
Then Keaton Wagler hit a step-back jumper.
Golden State lost 104-101, but its reserves had outscored Los Angeles’ bench 75-58. Charles Bassey supplied interior scoring, Brandon Williams attacked the paint, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg offered flashes of playmaking that Steve Kerr could use.
The numbers looked impressive. The circumstances told a different story.
Stephen Curry played just 12 minutes. Draymond Green and Al Horford joined him on the bench for the entire second half, leaving Golden State’s reserves with extra possessions and considerably more freedom.
That freedom disappears when the regular season begins.
Kerr needs to know whether Williams can create offense without dominating the ball. Houston faces similar decisions with Reed Sheppard and Marcus Smart, while New York and Minnesota must rebuild parts of their rotations around new personnel.
Scoring in October earns attention, but a hot hand doesn’t guarantee a place in November.
The real test comes when a reserve checks in and the opposing coach immediately attacks his matchup.
Golden State’s bench explosion offered more than a scoring audition
The Warriors’ comeback against the Clippers started with the sort of individual plays that rarely receive much attention once Curry returns to full minutes.
Williams provided several.
During the first half, he used a hesitation dribble to attack the paint before finishing a left-handed scoop on the right side of the basket.
Later, the guard sold a pump fake, beat his defender off the dribble and converted another difficult finish.
Golden State’s official game recap also documented a Euro-step drive that produced a three-point opportunity.
Williams finished with 11 points and a plus-16 rating in 15 minutes.
His speed had already caught teammates’ attention during training camp. According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Luca Evans, veteran Georges Niang compared Williams’ acceleration to the Road Runner.
That quickness gave Kerr something useful: another guard who could collapse a defense when Curry rested.
Yet Williams’ most telling observation came after the opener.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives,” he told the Chronicle. He acknowledged passing up a few opportunities before Kerr encouraged him to shoot.
The exchange captured a problem coaches face with young reserves. Confidence matters, but so does understanding when a scoring chance belongs to you.
Brandon Williams must learn when to attack and when to disappear
Against Sacramento on October 10, Williams scored 19 points in 17 minutes, shooting seven of eight from the field.
He even went a perfect 2-for-2 from deep.
The performance followed a preseason appearance as a starter against Portland, giving Kerr another opportunity to compare Williams’ responsibilities.
A reserve guard running the second unit can attack ball screens and hunt his own shot. Playing beside Curry demands something different.
Imagine Curry receiving a high screen while Williams waits beyond the opposite arc.
As the defense sends extra attention toward Curry, Williams can stay available for a catch-and-shoot opportunity or attack the gap if his defender rotates toward the ball.
The timing matters.
Cut too early, and Williams brings another defender into Curry’s driving lane. Stay stationary after the defense shifts, and he wastes the advantage Curry created.
For Williams, recognizing those moments could determine whether his October production translates into dependable minutes.
Lendeborg and Bassey gave Kerr a different offensive action
Golden State’s most revealing possession against the Clippers involved a rookie forward and a traditional center.
In the third quarter, Yaxel Lendeborg handled the ball in a pick-and-roll with Bassey.
As the center moved toward the basket, Lendeborg lofted an alley-oop pass for a dunk.
The Warriors highlighted the play in their official October 4 recap.
It offered a useful alternative to Golden State’s familiar Curry-led offense. Lendeborg could initiate a screen action, while Bassey provided a vertical target near the rim.
Switch the screen, and Bassey might establish deep position against a smaller defender. Drop the opposing center, and Lendeborg could find room to attack or pass.
Those are potential counters, not established regular-season strengths.
Bassey still needs to defend effectively enough to stay on the floor.
Against the Lakers on October 13, he produced eight points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves scored 25 first-half points, exposing weaknesses in Golden State’s overall defensive coverage.
The Warriors can’t evaluate Bassey’s rim protection without examining how their perimeter defenders handle screens.
Lendeborg’s role complicates the rotation further.
The rookie recorded 23 points, ten rebounds and six assists against Sacramento. By October 12, Kerr was planning to start him.
That move gives Golden State another playmaker alongside its veterans, but it removes someone who might otherwise have organized the second unit.
As Kerr told the San Francisco Chronicle during camp, the Warriors felt better about the pieces they had and how those pieces might fit.
The challenge is finding combinations that don’t collapse defensively once the starters sit.
Houston needs Sheppard’s shooting and Smart’s defensive experience
Reed Sheppard and Marcus Smart offer Ime Udoka very different answers.
Sheppard stretches the floor. Smart handles difficult defensive assignments and helps organize teammates.
Houston’s preseason games in Macao provided encouraging evidence for both players.
On October 9, Sheppard scored 16 points in 19 minutes against Dallas, connecting on four of seven three-point attempts.
Two days later, he made another four triples.
Smart, making his Rockets preseason debut on October 11, scored 20 points in 24 minutes.
Udoka now must decide how to distribute those responsibilities once Fred VanVleet takes control of the starting offense.
Sheppard’s best movement might happen without the ball
Consider a half-court possession involving Alperen Şengün.
The Rockets center receives the ball near the elbow while Sheppard begins on the weak side.
As Şengün turns toward the basket, the defense must account for his interior scoring and passing.
Sheppard drifts toward an open shooting pocket.
Should his defender help against Şengün, the guard has room for a catch-and-shoot three. Stay attached to Sheppard, and Houston preserves space around the basket.
That relationship could matter more than another high-scoring preseason performance.
Sheppard doesn’t need to initiate every possession. His shooting can influence the defense even when someone else handles the ball.
However, he must improve his work against opposing screens.
A late recovery forces Houston’s center to defend the ball handler and rolling screener simultaneously.
Udoka won’t ignore repeated breakdowns simply because Sheppard makes several three-pointers.
Smart gives Houston another defensive option
Smart arrived in Houston with a familiar connection to Udoka.
The two worked together during Boston’s 2021-22 season, when Smart won Defensive Player of the Year.
Following Smart’s preseason debut, Udoka praised his experience during an NBA TV interview.
“He’s really cerebral on both sides of the ball,” the coach said.
Udoka also emphasized how valuable Smart’s experience could become when VanVleet needs rest, particularly during back-to-backs.
That is the kind of specific assignment a veteran reserve can handle.
Against a guard who repeatedly uses high ball screens, Smart can fight over the screener and pressure the dribble.
If Houston drops its center toward the paint, Smart must recover quickly enough to discourage an open pull-up jumper.
A late recovery leaves the big man responsible for two threats.
Sheppard could benefit from playing beside Smart, especially when Houston needs perimeter shooting without exposing its youngest guard to the toughest defensive matchup.
The arrangement brings another concern.
If opponents help away from Smart to crowd Houston’s scorers, the Rockets need enough shooting to punish those decisions.
Houston’s October 15 victory over Oklahoma City provided another piece of evidence.
Sheppard came off the bench and scored 11 points in 16 minutes, adding five rebounds and three assists.
That smaller role looked closer to what Houston might need when VanVleet controls the offense.
Smart can handle the defensive pressure. Sheppard must make opponents regret leaving him open.
New York’s 50-point loss exposed the cost of defensive mistakes
The Knicks’ October 13 exhibition against Toronto looked ugly almost immediately.
New York rested its established starters on the second night of a back-to-back. Mike Brown gave the reserves extended opportunities against a Raptors lineup featuring regular NBA contributors.
Toronto won 148-98.
The Raptors scored 86 first-half points and shot 57.3% from the field. New York couldn’t establish consistent defensive resistance.
James Wiseman still found ways to produce.
The former No. 2 overall pick finished with 18 points and ten rebounds, making seven of eight shots.
His scoring offered one of the few encouraging performances. The defensive tape promised a much less comfortable review.
Wiseman can finish a play but must survive the one before it
Alongside Jalen Brunson, Wiseman may spend significant time setting high screens before rolling hard toward the basket.
If Brunson draws two defenders, the center can slip into open space for a lob or short pass.
That action suits Wiseman’s athleticism.
The trouble begins when New York loses possession.
An opposing guard can immediately involve Wiseman in a high pick-and-roll, forcing him to contain the ball while tracking the rolling screener.
Should the Knicks call for drop coverage, Wiseman must retreat at the correct angle. His perimeter defender needs enough time to recover without allowing an uncontested jumper.
A late weak-side rotation could leave a shooter completely open.
Those responsibilities explain why Wiseman’s Toronto performance couldn’t settle New York’s roster competition.
He offered offensive finishing and size. Brown needed to know whether those strengths outweighed his defensive limitations.
Bruce Brown’s release made the roster calculation clear
On October 17, New York waived veteran Bruce Brown and kept Wiseman.
The move carried some irony.
Brown had helped Denver win the 2023 NBA championship. During the 2025-26 season with the Nuggets, he appeared in all 82 games and averaged 7.9 points.
His experience wasn’t in question.
New York simply needed frontcourt insurance.
Mitchell Robinson’s departure had already changed the roster, while Ariel Hukporti’s injury created additional uncertainty.
Andre Drummond provided one option behind Karl-Anthony Towns. Wiseman gave the Knicks another seven-footer.
Roster constraints connected to the NBA’s second apron further complicated the decision.
Brown’s championship résumé couldn’t overcome New York’s positional needs.
Wiseman now has a clear assignment: rebound, run the floor and protect the basket without repeatedly surrendering favorable matchups.
He won’t always receive eight shot attempts in limited minutes.
When Brunson needs rest, Brown must trust Wiseman to keep the defense functioning.
New York’s preseason rotation experiments ended with a roster decision. The harder evaluation begins with the first difficult matchup.
Minnesota must change its off-ball movement around LaMelo Ball
Minnesota’s bench evaluation begins with a much bigger roster adjustment.
The Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a four-team trade announced in July.
Naz Reid went to the Hornets, while Julius Randle moved to Brooklyn as part of the expanded transaction.
Those departures removed two important sources of frontcourt scoring.
Ball brings a different kind of offense.
He averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists during his final season in Charlotte, according to NBA.com’s trade coverage.
Now he joins Anthony Edwards in a backcourt featuring two players who can create shots off the dribble.
For Chris Finch, the immediate challenge involves finding supporting players who know where to move when either guard attacks.
Dosunmu can attack the space Ball creates
Ayo Dosunmu gives Finch an experienced option.
Minnesota re-signed him in July after acquiring him from Chicago during the previous season.
According to the team’s official announcement, Dosunmu averaged 14.8 points across 69 games in 2025-26 while shooting 43.9% from three-point range.
He can score without requiring an offense built around him.
That should matter alongside Ball.
Imagine Minnesota running a high pick-and-roll with Ball handling the ball.
As the defense shifts toward the action, Dosunmu waits on the weak-side wing.
If his defender turns toward the lane to help, Dosunmu can make a 45-degree cut toward the basket.
Ball has the passing vision to find that movement.
Should the defender stay attached, Dosunmu can remain available beyond the arc.
Either option allows Minnesota to exploit the attention Ball commands without crowding the paint around Edwards.
Finch must still determine how frequently to stagger his two stars.
A lineup with Ball directing the second unit may require stronger defensive support. Another featuring Edwards could benefit from Dosunmu’s shooting and ability to attack closeouts.
The matchups will influence those decisions.
DiVincenzo’s absence creates another defensive problem
Donte DiVincenzo’s recovery from a ruptured right Achilles tendon leaves Minnesota short of an established perimeter contributor.
NBA.com’s October injury updates indicated that he remained hopeful of returning during the 2026-27 season.
Until then, Finch must distribute additional minutes among players such as Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Cody Williams.
The defensive consequences matter.
Consider an opponent running staggered screens to free a shooter.
Minnesota needs someone who can recognize the route, fight through contact and recover without surrendering an open look.
Another possession might require a weak-side defender to tag the roller before sprinting back toward the corner.
Dosunmu’s defensive activity makes him useful in those situations.
Clark and the younger reserves must demonstrate similar discipline.
For Minnesota, preseason rotation experiments serve a different purpose than they do in Golden State.
The Timberwolves are replacing specific skills from a roster that has changed considerably.
Ball and Edwards can generate plenty of offense. The bench must keep opponents from getting those points straight back.
The film reveals what preseason scoring totals miss
A reserve who scores 20 points in October deserves another look.
The next film session determines whether he deserves regular minutes.
Did the player create shots against established defenders? Could he stay effective when a teammate controlled the offense?
What happened when opponents targeted him defensively?
Those answers matter more than a hot shooting night against players fighting for the final roster spot.
Watch the screen before watching the shot
Consider a second-unit guard defending an opponent’s high pick-and-roll.
The opposing center approaches from his left.
Recognize the screen early, and the guard can call out the action before fighting over the screener. His center knows whether to drop toward the paint or challenge higher.
Miss the call, and the coverage can collapse.
Two defenders chase the ball while the screener rolls unattended.
The box score records a layup. Film reveals the mistake several seconds earlier.
Smart’s experience gives Houston an advantage in those moments.
Golden State needs similar recognition from Williams and its younger reserves. New York must determine whether Wiseman can maintain the correct depth without abandoning the basket.
Minnesota’s perimeter group faces another challenge: coordinating help around Ball and Edwards without leaving shooters unattended.
These are the mistakes that shorten a reserve’s shift.
A missed three-pointer might earn another opportunity. Two straight blown coverages can send a player back to the bench.
Spacing can turn a useful player into a problem
Now picture Curry receiving a screen near the top of the key.
A reserve forward cuts toward the basket before the defense commits to helping.
His movement brings another defender into Curry’s driving lane.
Golden State suddenly has less room.
Wait until the weak-side defender shifts toward Curry, and the same cut becomes dangerous.
Timing changes the play.
Sheppard faces similar decisions in Houston.
His shooting provides value when he maintains the correct spacing around Şengün. Drift too close to another teammate, and one defender can cover both players.
Dosunmu has another option in Minnesota.
When a defender turns toward Ball, he can cut behind the help or remain available beyond the arc.
The best reserves recognize those openings without waiting for instructions from the sideline.
That’s what coaches should look for during preseason rotation experiments: players who already understand how their movement affects everyone else.
November will decide which October auditions mattered
The regular season begins October 20, with New York raising its championship banner before hosting Philadelphia.
Golden State opens the following night against the Lakers.
Minnesota travels to Miami, where its new backcourt faces an immediate test.
For the reserves who impressed during October, the opportunities now become shorter and less forgiving.
Williams won’t handle the same volume of possessions he enjoyed during Golden State’s comeback against the Clippers. Bassey must defend well enough to justify minutes in a lineup built around movement and spacing.
Houston’s Sheppard will need to make shots without demanding the ball. Smart must handle difficult perimeter assignments and help the younger guards settle into their roles.
Wiseman has earned a place on New York’s roster, but that guarantees little once Brown begins tightening his rotation.
Minnesota faces a longer adjustment as Ball and Edwards establish their rhythm.
Dosunmu must find his opportunities without crowding either guard, while the Timberwolves’ younger reserves compete to replace DiVincenzo’s defensive activity.
The first few weeks will expose weak combinations.
An opponent will repeatedly attack a reserve through high screens. Another team might ignore a struggling shooter and crowd the paint.
Coaches will adjust quickly.
A player who received 20 preseason minutes could find himself sitting through an entire second half.
Someone else may earn a longer shift by defending one difficult possession correctly.
That’s where preseason rotation experiments face their real test.
Picture a reserve entering midway through the second quarter with his team leading by six.
The opposing coach immediately calls for a high screen.
The guard recognizes it, fights over the pick and stays attached to the ball handler. Behind him, the center drops toward the lane while the weak-side defender watches the roller.
No opening appears.
The offense settles for a contested jumper, and the reserve’s team collects the rebound.
At the other end, he stays wide as the starting scorer draws attention.
His defender shifts toward the ball.
One quick pass creates an open three.
The reserve catches, shoots and jogs back on defense.
No celebration. No dramatic reaction from the bench.
The coach leaves him on the floor.
October showed who could fill a box score. November will show who can be trusted to keep a lead.
READ MORE: Defending the pick-and-roll remains rookie big men’s toughest NBA adjustment
FAQs
Q1. Why do NBA coaches experiment with rotations during preseason?
Preseason lets coaches test new lineups, evaluate reserves and identify combinations that work before regular-season games begin.
Q2. Does strong preseason scoring guarantee regular-season minutes?
No. Coaches also judge defense, decision-making and how well a player fits beside established starters.
Q3. How did Golden State’s bench perform against the Clippers in October 2026?
Golden State’s reserves outscored the Clippers’ bench 75-58, but the Warriors lost 104-101.
Q4. Why are Reed Sheppard and Marcus Smart important to Houston’s bench?
Sheppard provides outside shooting, while Smart adds defensive experience and playmaking. Together, they give Ime Udoka different backcourt options.
Q5. How does LaMelo Ball’s arrival affect Minnesota’s rotation?
Ball gives Minnesota another offensive creator alongside Anthony Edwards. Supporting players must adjust their spacing, movement and defensive responsibilities.
