Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green missed Sunday's practice after apparently tweaking his ankle during Saturday's game against the Detroit Pistons.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Green is questionable to play on Monday night against the Sacramento Kings:
Kerr says Draymond tweaked his ankle in last night’s game. He did not practice. He is questionable for Monday’s game vs. Kings.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 5, 2020
Green has been banged up all season long. The three-time All-Star has played in 27 of Golden State's 37 games, but he has also dealt with myriad injuries, including ligament damage to his left index finger as well as a heel injury that sidelined him in late November.
This season has certainly been an adjustment for Green. He has still been productive in his usual “do it all” role, averaging 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals. However, the former Defensive Player of the Year has struggled to bring his teammates up to speed on that end of the floor. The Warriors rank 23rd in defensive rating, according to Basketball-Reference.
There seemed to be some reason for optimism when the Warriors embarked on a four-game winning streak between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, but Golden State has since lost four straight.
While the ankle injury may or may not be a concern, Kerr is definitely worried about Green's gas tank, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic:
“I think the last couple of games, he’s looked tired,” coach Steve Kerr said. “You have to remember that he’s the lone holdover from the team that’s been to the Finals five years in a row. He looks tired to me.”
Green is typically the feisty and emotional leader for Golden State. Naturally, it would be hard for him to keep up that kind of energy in a losing season such as this, particularly considering the injuries and the sheer fact that the Warriors previously made five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
Irrespective of the ankle issue, the Warriors will hope Draymond Green can help the current rotation build on some positives as the season progresses.
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