No team ever heads into a season anticipating they’ll encounter what the Warriors have. Unexpected star injuries, cohesion issues, and player drama have thrown a wrench in any hopes for building consistency. Regardless of what has been put in Golden State’s way, they are still in playoff contention.
Injuries to Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry have put a damper on what was hoped to be a last push for an NBA title. Dub Nation will have to wait to see new acquisition Kristaps Porzingis make his debut. He is still recovering from an Achilles tendinitis that first ailed him when he was with the Atlanta Hawks.
In what may seem like a dark cloud cast over an aging squad clinging to some sense of relevance, the absence of the star players may be formative for the young players.
Additional Opportunities Being Taken Advantage Of
Everyone’s heard the NBA cliche by now: the best ability is availability. With limited options available to Steve Kerr, he’s been forced to give leeway to players who wouldn’t otherwise get it. In some ways, this could be a small silver lining for a team scrambling to figure out how to win games.
The depleted Warriors have displayed two impressive showings thus far. Thursday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns saw the team rally back after being down by 14 in the fourth quarter. Without Butler there to steady the second unit, other players stepped up.
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Moses Moody played solid defense all night, including in the final minutes of the game against Dillon Brooks. With the Suns missing Devin Booker, Golden State’s defense ramped up down the stretch, holding the Suns to just one field goal in the last six minutes of the game.
Offensively, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford each provided clutch field goals in the final minute helped secure a much-needed win against a team right in front of them in the standings.
Pat Spencer, who just got his contract extended for the remainder of the season, pitched in a career-high 20 points. Spencer will need to take on a much larger role, specifically in facilitating the offense, given that two of the best facilitators (Curry and Butler) are sidelined.
Gui Santos also dished out seven assists along with 18 points. His timely layup, after the Warriors saved an almost-out-of-bounds throwaway, sealed the victory with 28.7 seconds remaining.
Controlling What Is Controllable
Nights like Thursday showcased Golden State’s ability to grind out a gutsy win. Hustle plays and defensive stops were the keys to pulling off a win in which the team shot just 43% from the field. The team can apply those takeaways to every game, even if it means having to scrap and claw much harder.
Though the Warriors were unable to come out on top in a neck-and-neck race with the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night, their effort was on display once again. The squad lost to the Lakers by just six points, despite missing 37 three-pointers.
Their refusal to back down from LeBron James underscored the importance of toughness, even without star talent. If the Warriors bring the same energy and intensity as they did against the Lakers and Suns, they will give themselves a shot to win every night.
“Win games. Try to give ourselves a shot at a playoff spot,” said Draymond Green in a postgame press conference on the Warriors’ goals right now. “I guarantee you ain’t have us picked to win in 2022 when we got into the playoffs.”
Making the Most Out of the Situation
These feisty Warriors have an underdog mentality more than ever. Despite missing the firepower needed to contend in the Western Conference, they know hard work can beat talent. Golden State can still find ways to best their opponents by doing the little things.
Butler is out for the rest of the season, and there is no specific return date for when Curry and Porzingis could return. Coach Kerr announced that they could miss the rest of the games until after the All-Star break.
With that said, the Warriors’ youngsters have their time to shine right now. Their backs are against the wall, but they have something to prove. And, despite the circumstances they find themselves in, that may just help them in the long run.
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