“DUB NATION, are you ready?” The crowd murmured affirmatively when the lights dimmed and the courtside anchor announced the Golden State Warriors’ starting five.
Draymond Green was named first, followed by Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Stephen Curry. Curry’s name is usually announced last, but the night of January 9 was different. The shooting guard who made us wait 941 days was the finale. Klay Thompson is finally back, and the Warriors have a full body.
Green said before the game that his calf was a little sore, but he still wanted to mark Thompson’s return by making a start. However, following Green fouled Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he never played once more. Green and the team said at the time that the move was just to prevent injuries. However, following two months, he still did not return.
The Warriors were just 0.5 games behind the No. 1 Phoenix Suns on Jan. 9. However, they have lost seven of their past nine games, trailing to 7.5 games, just a half-game ahead of the third-place Memphis Grizzlies.
In those 25 games without Green, the Warriors’ league-best start has disintegrated, and their weaknesses have been exposed. They’ve struggled in the past to find a more harmonious model for the team, a way to still win following losing Thompson.
This season is the first time the Warriors have looked like a title contender since 2017-18. Now, with 19 games remaining in the regular season, their championship dreams seem to depend on Green’s return. When asked if Green was the key to the Warriors’ success, coach Steve Kerr said yes. “Yeah, we only have one Draymond,” Kerr told ESPN.
The Warriors essentially lost their other playmaker when Green limped back to the bench in Thompson’s return show. Before the injury, Green was second on the team in touches (73.6) and assists (7.4).
Green, one of five players Thompson had on the team before his injury, especially missed Green’s playmaking ability as he integrated into the lineup. Green and Thompson combined for 669 goals, second only to Curry and Thompson on the team.
“We’re built on a chemistry of trust and relying so much on someone like Green. He’s always been outspoken, has a high IQ, and has a certain leadership style that only he can bring to us.” Curry Say. Green helped Curry take 816 shots in his career, including 65 this season.
Curry and Thompson both have career-low 3-point percentages this season, largely due to Green’s absence from the lineup. In January without Green, Curry shot just 32.9 percent from three.
In addition to losing Green, Thompson also had to deal with playing time limits when he returned, initially limited to 20 minutes per game. “For Thompson, he forced himself a lot of things early on to get his rhythm back because he knew he only had a short amount of time to help the team,” Curry said.
Jordan Poole, a third-year player who started at shooting guard in Thompson’s absence, may have undergone his biggest adjustment over the past two months. Poole has returned to the bench, although he still starts when Thompson isn’t in the lineup. However, Poole’s adjustment isn’t all regarding the difference between a starter and a backup, and sources told ESPN that during this transition period for Poole, many feared a change in his mood.
“The change wasn’t because of being off the bench, but Draymond wasn’t on the floor,” Kerr said. “Look at the first half of the season, he wasn’t really our point guard. He played with the guys who were in charge of the ball. He was really focused on scoring and Shooting. But given our injuries, Jordan has learned that he has to take on playmaking responsibilities and it’s a lot more. He can’t just focus on scoring, he has to really run the team. I think it’s more of an injury to He made an impact.”
Green leads the team with 60.6 passes per game. Curry (49.1) and Poole (39.2) were second and third, respectively, through Jan. 9. Poole has averaged just 41.5 attempts since then, even though he’s tasked with providing firepower when Curry isn’t on the floor. While Poole was being asked to carry more of the burden in the organization, it took a toll on his 3-point shooting. He shot just 25.9 percent from the field in February, down from 37 percent in January.
Wiggins, who made his first All-Star team this season, also saw his scoring drop significantly without Green on the floor. Before Green’s injury, Wiggins was averaging 18.8 points on 48 percent shooting. In February, however, Wiggins posted his lowest scoring average (13.8 points) since his rookie season. He’s shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range.