The Golden State Warriors are preparing for the Toronto Raptors as if they won’t have Draymond Green in the lineup.
Green missed Monday’s practice due to the flu, according to Ethan Strauss of ESPN, and the Warriors practiced “as though he won’t be available.” That would be a fairly major blow to the Warriors, even if only for a game, as Green has continued his ascension to All-Star status and may now be the team’s second-best all-around player.
The runner-up for Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year a season ago, Green has emerged as a true original, redefining the power forward position. Stretch-four doesn’t do his work justice, playmaking-four doesn’t account for his exceptional defense, and there’s really no definition that can capture his two-way versatility other than to say, well, he’s Draymond Green. The 25-year-old is averaging 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks, all while shooting 41.9 percent on 3-point attempts. The scoring average may hide his impact some, but the assists and outside shooting serve to prove just how unique Green’s contributions are.
He’s also a match-up nightmare at both ends. He’s a strong screener who can work the pick-and-pop thanks to his jumper or take a pass on the dive. From there, he’s one of the very best in the league at operating as a distributor on the roll, and high Steph Curry-Green pick-and-rolls are impossible to cover. Ask your big to hedge out on Curry and Green gets to lead a 4-on-3 break. Ask your big to stay tight to Green to avoid that or an above-the-break jumper, and you task your guard with fighting through a tough screen and risk giving Curry too much space. Defensively, Green can switch on to just about any offensive player, freeing up the Warriors to switch on any screen they choose, particularly if Green is functioning as the team’s center.
And yes, the 6-foot-7 Green often functions as the team’s center. The Warriors are deadly that way, and their starters with Andre Iguodala in off the bench for Andrew Bogut represent one of the deadliest lineups in the league. It’s a super-charged version of the closing lineup Dwane Casey likes to use with DeMarre Caroll at the four, and the Warriors have outscored opponents by 49.1 points per-100 possessions (PPC) so far this season with that group (and 21.8 PPC in 2014-15).
Overall, the Warriors have been 12 PPC better with Green on the floor this year, and his net rating is tops on the team for anyone who’s played at least 35 minutes. That profound impact was true a season ago, too, as he was narrowly behind Curry and Bogut for the team’s net rating lead ,and the team was 14 PPC better with him on the floor. He’s a special player and his absence will go beyond numbers; the Warriors have to fundamentally change how they play with Green out.
It’s unclear who will draw the start if Green sits. Jason Thompson and Mo Speights stand as options, and the Warriors could solve the Festus Ezeli-Bogut conundrum by starting both in a huge frontline. They could also opt to go small from the jump, starting Iguodala or Shaun Livingston. There are a lot of choices here, and since Green only missed three games last season (all started by the departed David Lee0), it’s unclear what the call will be.
In other news, Klay Thompson (back) and Leandro Barbosa (personal) are expected to play. The coaching staff was quiet on whether Festus Ezeli will continue to start at center or if Bogut will return to the starting lineup. Check back tomorrow morning for a full preview.
