SAN FRANCISCO — Another Warriors star could be out for the foreseeable future.
Before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Draymond has suffered a “setback” with his right knee, which held him out for his second consecutive contest.
“It flared up today,” Kerr said. “He will be more thoroughly checked out today by our medical staff. It was sort of unexpected. The way he came through treatment yesterday, everything was looking good then he had a setback today.”
Draymond, 32, is listed as having a right knee contusion and Kerr told reporters Friday that Green was expected to play Sunday.
Sunday also marked the eighth straight contest the 34-year-old Steph has missed since suffering a leg injury on Feb. 4 against the Dallas Mavericks, though he has resumed basketball activities and is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Starting wing Andrew Wiggins also is out for his third straight game while tending to a family matter, so the Warriors remain without three of their top players.
Last season, Draymond missed 30 games with a back injury and got to play five quarters with Curry, before Steph suffered an foot injury that kept him out the final 12 games of the regular season. The Warriors had the benefit of a better record last year, though, as they were 43-17 through 60 games as opposed to their 30-30 mark now.
Kerr explained how the Warriors need to adapt without their top two playmakers.
“It’s hard to change an identity, but you can add a couple of playcalls, which we’ve done," Kerr said. "Certain matchups that you see. Maybe going to Klay a little bit more in pick-and-roll than we normally would, for example, with Steph being out. Maybe playing a different combination, getting more shooting on the floor. … You’re still gonna be who you are, but you can mix in ways of attacking too.”
Curry brings the spacing and Draymond brings the pacing. Wiggs brings a two-way presence. Now the Warriors will have to continue to rely on their role players, and perhaps that means more minutes for Moses Moody and Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Klay Thompson has put the team on his back in Steph’s absence with a couple of explosions featuring 12 3-pointers, but the age is starting to show for the Dubs dynasty. Especially when you consider that Andre Iguodala made a three-game cameo before becoming unavailable again.
The Warriors have 23 games remaining as they await the return of their stars and Gary Payton II, who is eyeing a return some time in March from an abdominal injury.
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