The expectations of the Golden State Warriors have no doubt shifted in the wake of the Warriors’ injury news.
Jimmy Butler‘s ACL tear and Stephen Curry‘s nagging knee injury have thwarted the team’s championship hopes.
Though the Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline, the plan was to pair him next to Stephen Curry to maximize the shooting gravity of both. In an ideal world, Butler would have been healthy to form a formidable trio.
But this is the NBA, and plans rarely execute exactly as laid out at the beginning of the season.
There is still a lot to get out of the remaining games, even if the Warriors aren’t title contenders anymore.
Incorporating Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis showed flashes of what he provides in his Warriors debut against the Boston Celtics. Despite Curry’s absence, it is clear that his three-point shooting draws attention, forcing defenses to react.
Curry will be reevaluated at the end of next week, with the hope that he will return soon. The Warriors should focus on getting Porzingis acclimated and up to his normal minutes until Curry returns.
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Curry hasn’t played with a stretch big quite like Porzingis, who can leverage the double teams that follow Curry. At 7-foot-2, the former Celtic also bolsters the Warriors’ interior defense, offering a tall rim presence to disrupt opponents.
Brandin Podziemski and Pat Spencer, who was just signed to a standard NBA contract, have seen an uptick in minutes since Curry’s injury.
Porzingis would likely be playing most of his minutes with Curry rather than Spencer or Podziemski. He may still be regaining his footing following his long bout with Achilles tendinitis, but the reps he is getting without Curry will only ease his transition once the MVP returns.
There is no serious pressure to win a championship anymore after these significant injuries, especially Butler’s. Right now, the Warriors can concentrate on integrating Porzingis in the system and, eventually, see how he fits with Curry.
Young Guys’ Time to Shine
A new door opens up for players when a team’s stars are out. Players who don’t typically have prominent roles receive much more runway to showcase their talent. Whether or not the team is intent on retaining the guys around Curry, this extra playing time will be beneficial.
Players can continue to grow their games to take a bigger leap with the team next season, when the Golden State Warriors’ core will enter the final years of their contracts. Or, they can increase their trade value and help facilitate a deal in the summer for a big star.
One of the players who has capitalized on his extended playing time the most is Gui Santos. In Thursday night’s game against the Celtics, Santos was the only Warriors’ starter to post a positive plus-minus. He has stepped up in both scoring and creating shots for his teammates.
In the last six games, Santos has averaged over 15 points while shooting north of 55% from the field. His development has caught Curry’s eye, who recognizes Santos’ ability to affect the game in many ways. From playing tough defense on opponents to knocking down timely three-pointers, the 23-year-old has been pivotal.
Santos, along with Podziemski, Spencer, and Moses Moody, will have a chance to run the show, especially with Porzingis still on a minutes restriction. The team’s ceiling may be lower than it was a month ago, but that doesn’t mean that Golden State can’t get the most out of the last 26 games.
Reshifting Focus
The Warriors’ new reality isn’t what they had envisioned back in October. Regardless, there are still bright spots for a team that now has to shift its focus to less lofty goals. The Warriors should use the last third of the season as a measuring stick to gauge how they compete without Butler.
The NBA is all about adapting and adjusting. In moments of trials and uncertainty, teams get a good understanding of what they are made of at their core. And now, the Golden State Warriors will reveal a new picture of their future, even if it isn’t what they had planned.
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