As the Golden State Warriors got a much-needed win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night to eek back above a .500 record, head coach Steve Kerr made a seemingly strange decision with the starting lineup.
Veteran guard Gary Payton II, who had only averaged 10.8 minutes per game off the bench this season, got the start in place of the injured Draymond Green, and, although he certainly wasn't the team's most productive player, he provided everyone a reminder of what he does provide to the Warriors' rotation.
Even though Payton is not a dynamic scorer, Kerr trusts him so extensively because he is willing to make winning plays, hustling for rebounds and loose balls while playing intense point-of-attack defense, and his ability to spot a start for the team in a blowout victory yet again proves his value in this regard.