One of the more surprising developments in recent weeks in the NBA has been the struggles of the Golden State Warriors. They are currently riding a four-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last 10 games.
This recent skid has dropped their record to 43-21 on the season, which has them in a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies for second place in the Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns are no longer looking like a team they can chase down in the standings, as the Suns are eight games clear of the No. 2 seed with a record of 51-31.
Things will not be getting any easier for the Warriors this week as their schedule is brutally difficult. They have a road game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday before coming back home to face the LA Clippers on Tuesday. Thursday they are back on the road against the Nuggets before coming back home for a four-game trip that begins with a visit from the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks.
The biggest reason for the Golden State Warriors’ struggles is that they have been without Draymond Green. While Green doesn’t stuff the stat sheet, brings a lot more to the team than just statistics. He is the heart and soul of the team, their emotional leader on and off the court.
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Being away from the team as he rehabbed a calf injury, it is apparent the impact that he has. Without him, the team doesn’t seem to have that same edge or energy, especially on the defensive end of the court.
His absence, combined with an extended shooting slump for Stephen Curry, has proven too much for the Warriors to overcome. Luckily for Golden State, Green is nearing a return to the court.
It has been reported that he will make his return in the next 7-10 days. That means he could miss five or six more games before he is back on the court. In addition to the four games mentioned earlier, he could miss matchups against the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics.
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If Green returns on March 20th against the San Antonio Spurs, he will have 12 games to ramp things up before the postseason gets underway. With Green back in the mix, the Golden State Warriors will start looking more like the version we had seen throughout the season.
Green’s absence has really hurt the team defensively. Without Green in the lineup, the team’s defensive rating is 106.4, which is a sizable drop-off from the 101.5 they have registered with him in the lineup.
Their offensive numbers are similar, as they have an offensive rating of 111.3 with him and 111.1 without him. But, their net rating has a difference of 5.1, as Draymond Green’s impact is mostly felt defensively, where he can stake his claim as the most versatile defender in the league.
