Injury will leave Bogut on sidelines
Warriors centre will need six to eight weeks to recover, putting Olympics in doubt
CLEVELAND— Golden State centre Andrew Bogut will need six to eight weeks to recover from a left knee injury, ruling him out for the rest of the NBA finals and putting his Olympic team hopes in jeopardy.
The Warriors labelled it an “impaction injury” that resulted in serious bone bruises, but he isn’t expected to need surgery.
Bogut was hurt about 90 seconds into the third quarter of Game 5 on Sunday, when he blocked a shot by the Cavaliers’ J.R. Smith and then landed awkwardly.
“Even with Bogut out, they still have so much firepower that it doesn’t take any of the focus out of our mind going into Game 6,” Cavaliers star LeBron James said, with his Cavaliers down three games to two heading into Thursday night’s contest.
It’s a major blow to Golden State’s defensive scheme, though. Bogut blocked five shots in Game 2 of the final, and the Warriors’ defensive numbers are typically much better when he is on the floor.
Without Bogut, it’s likely that Dray- mond Green — who missed Game 5 because of a suspension for accruing too many flagrant foul points during the playoffs — could spend a significant amount of time at centre in Thursday night’s Game 6. Green has played there regularly during the playoffs.
“It’s not like a loss where you say, ‘Aw, it doesn’t matter.’ It definitely matters,” Green said.
“We’re going to miss him, but one thing we always talk about is our depth. So it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up. One guy goes down, another guy has to step up. I’m not sure what the rotations or none of that stuff will be, but whoever touches the floor, it’s an opportunity to step up.
“No one will be Bogut,” Green added, “but give to this team what you can give.”
The timetable means Bogut will likely be sidelined through July at least. He was expected to play for Australia in the Rio Olympics, with the opening game schedule for Aug. 6.