Draymond Green will not suit up in the Golden State Warriors’ second regular-season game, as he is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered before training camp.
Draymond Green missed Tuesday’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns. Because of a sprained left ankle, is set to miss the Warriors’ Friday showdown with the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Steve Kerr confirmed the bad news during an appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” show. Though, the Dubs coach noted that Green could still join them in their upcoming road trip.
Depth Under Scrutiny: Warriors Without Draymond Green
Golden State really missed Draymond Green’s presence against the Suns. Without their defensive anchor, the Warriors saw Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie and Jusuf Nurkic have their way on the offensive end.
The Dubs matched up pretty well on the offensive end. But they lost the defensive grit that Green brings, eventually led to a narrow 108-104 loss.
His defensive skills were missed against the Suns, especially when it came to containing Phoenix’s star player Devin Booker. He posted an impressive 32 points, six rebounds and eight assists on a 13-21 shooting percentage.
The Warriors face a daunting task on defense against the Kings, especially without Draymond Green. Last season, Sacramento had the highest offensive rating in the NBA. And recently scored a whopping 130 points against the Utah Jazz.
Former Warrior Harrison Barnes scored 27 points in the first half and finished the game with 33 points, going 11-16. All-Star center Domantas Sabonis also made his presence felt with 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Rising Stars: Opportunities for Bench Players
In Green’s absence, Steve Kerr opted for a smaller starting lineup that features newly signed veteran Chris Paul. He stood alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. The Warriors were able to defeat the Kings twice in the preseason without Draymond Green. But, that won’t mean much if they can’t win on Friday.
As for the meeting with the Kings, the Warriors are facing a lot of trouble without Draymond Green in the fold. Sacramento finished, 2022-23 with the third-best record in the West. They have their core returning this campaign. Unless Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul catch fire, the Dubs are in legitimate danger of falling to a 0-2 hole.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Championship Aspirations
The team remains optimistic about Draymond Green’s return and looks ahead to Sunday and Monday’s rematches against the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.
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