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The Golden State Warriors are missing Draymond Green. That much is clear following three straight losses to the Dallas Mavericks (twice) and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Golden State has only won one game since the All-Star break, beating the Portland Trail Blazers in their first game back. Their biggest issue is obvious as well, with the defense just failing to live up to the standard they set for majority of the first half of the season.
Of course that was expected in the absence of their defensive anchor in Green. However, it also highlights how badly they need the former Defensive Player of the Year and how difficult it is for them to replace him.
“He's the control center of everything we do,” one Warriors staff told ESPN.
Draymond Green has been sidelined since January 9 due to a back injury. In the games without the veteran forward, the Warriors have a 14-11 record–which is a massive different to the 28-6 win-loss tally they have with him on the floor.
The Dubs' defense have also suffered significantly, with their defensive rating dropping to 110.0 points per game from 100.3 in the past two months with Green sidelined.
For what it's worth, Stephen Curry acknowledged that defense is a major weakness they need to fix heading into the final stretch of the season. He admitted they really have to be competitive on that end of the floor if they want to enter the playoffs in good shape.
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“It’s probably defensively,” Curry told Mark Haynes of ClutchPoints recently. “I know it includes a lot of different elements, rebounding, and making things uncomfortable for opponents, our one-on-one defense, and stuff like that. If we get back to the level of defense that we’re used to not just the numbers but the energy, the attention to detail, and the competitiveness on that side, then I feel we will be in really good shape”
It remains to be seen when Green will return to the Warriors, though there have been rumors that he could be back by mid-March. In a bit of good news, Green himself updated his fans on his condition earlier in the week, saying that he is “feeling great” after participating in a full practice with the team.
“That is a step in the right direction that I am thankful for and happy about. Now it’s just continuing to ramp up, continuing to get my conditioning back, continuing to get my feel back, and most importantly, continuing to get regain all of my explosiveness which I am very pleased with where it is today,” Green shared.
The Warriors are virtually secured of a playoff spot considering they have a significant cushion from the seventh seed–which would put them in a play-in spot instead. Nonetheless, there is no doubt they need Green back as soon as possible in order to keep their hold on the second seed. The Memphis Grizzlies are just half a game behind them, with Ja Morant and company determined to surpass them and even work their way up for the top seed.
Of course Green himself won't fix all the issues the Dubs are facing, but he will certainly give them a boost. More than that, his leadership and presence will be massive for the team as they look to get their defense on point.
