Green returns from toe sprain
Warriors get ‘Core 4’ again after 5 weeks
Draymond Green’s return Monday night will give the Warriors their “core four” players — Green, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson — on the court together for the first time in five weeks.
The implications of this little reunion stretch far and wide.
Green’s presence should strengthen the Warriors’ defense, which has been uncommonly ordinary most of this season. The Warriors figure to accelerate the pace on offense with Curry and Green both back in the mix.
And, with seven of their next nine games at home, they could start cranking out wins more regularly.
“We’re starting to play a little better and we’re getting healthy,” Green said Sunday. “We’re here most of the rest of the month, so it’s a good time for us to make a run.”
Green has missed 11 consecutive games, and 14 of the past
16, with a sprained big toe. He fully participated in Sunday’s practice, after which head coach Steve Kerr unequivocally said Green would play Monday night against Minnesota.
He injured the toe Nov. 5 and returned one week later against the Clippers in Los Angeles, on the night he and Durant had their memorable spat. Green tried again Nov. 15 in Houston before shutting it down.
Curry also missed 11 games last month because of a strained groin, and returned Dec. 1. Not coincidentally, the Warriors soon resumed playing like their old selves: mov- ing the ball more efficiently, piling up more assists, relying less often on isolation plays for Durant.
Now, with Green back — he leads the team at 7.2 assists per game — Golden State’s offense could climb into another realm.
“We play a completely different style,” Green said. “I think we play with more pace with Steph and me on the floor; there was more pace when Steph came back. More random offense, less play calling.
“It’s good to have all our team back. A lot has gone on since all of us were out. We should try to get order restored — that’s the goal.”
Kerr, similarly, expects Green’s return to create more chances for the Warriors to score in transition. And when they settle into a half-court offense, Curry and Durant no longer need to dominate the ball.
“Draymond’s ability to push the ball, and handle it at the top of the floor, allows our best shooters to work off the ball and screen for each other,” Kerr said. “We’ve used that to our advantage over the years, and it’s not something we’ve been able to do without him.”
Still, Green’s biggest impact might come on defense. The Warriors entered play Sunday 18th in the NBA in defensive rating (108.8), or points allowed per 100 possessions. They finished among the top six in Kerr’s first three years as head coach before slipping to 11th last season.
That said, the Warriors cranked up their defense in Friday night’s win at Milwaukee. Even without Green, they held the league’s highestscoring team to a season-low 95 points; Kerr called it Golden State’s best defensive effort of the season.
Green obviously savors his impact on that side of the game. He also brings a certain tenacity, as evident when he was asked if missing those 14 games changes his stated intention of earning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
“Hell, no,” he said. “Kawhi (Leonard) won it one year playing 56 games or something like that (actually 64). So, hell, no. It’s still on my mind. I’m going to get it done.”
Green won the league’s top defensive honor in 2016-17. Leonard, then with San Antonio, won it the two previous seasons; he played in 64 games (missing 18) in 2014-15 and 72 games in 2015-16.
Given his recent injury, the most games Green can play this season is 68. Asked whether this makes it harder for him to win Defensive Player of the Year, he said, “Nope. I’ve just got to come back and lock the league up, which I’m more than capable of doing. I think I’ve proven that. So, nope.”
Then he smiled and walked away.