This will be a tough matchup for the Dubs without their enforcer.
The last time the Golden State Warriors squared off with the Los Angeles Clippers on the road, it resulted in the Dubs taking one of their most embarrassing losses of the season. Here’s an excerpt from Dub Nation HQ’s recap:
Last night in a 113-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Clippers only led for NINE SECONDS the entire game. Nine seconds out of 48 minutes! That was all they needed though, as the Dubs blew a 22 point lead on the road.
They even got a scoring explosion from Draymond Green, who scored 21 points for the first time since the 2018 season, and hit four threes!
Wait wait, the Warriors got a scoring binge from Green and STILL couldn’t beat the Clips? Welp, now they’ll have to do it without him as he’s suspended...indefinitely.
The Dubs have been searching for a spark all year after a six-game win streak was followed up with spirit jarring defeats. They’re currently 10-13 with losing records both at home and on the road. They also haven’t established dominance with their starting lineup, and that’s before Green got hammered with the ultimate benching by the NBA.
Warriors starting lineup went from the BEST in the NBA to the WORST in the NBA within a year.
— De ️ressed Warriors Fan (@GoIdenState) December 13, 2023
How the hell is this possible? pic.twitter.com/749OECrobx
We knew that there would be some level of punishment, but we didn’t want that to be the focus…Indefinite means get yourself right.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2023
NBA Executive VP & Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars on Draymond Green’s suspension.
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/grr6oYS14h
So what now? Wellp, Coach Steve Kerr has already said he would be leaning heavily on the bench to find some combinations that work. After the team’s last loss, he had this to say:
“Tonight, I just felt like I had to play the guys who are playing the best,” Kerr said. “I’ve been really patient and trying to get everyone organized into groups and give guys freedom and space but tonight didn’t feel like a night to have a lot of patience. We needed urgency and that’s why we made the moves.”
"I had to play the guys who were playing the best."
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 13, 2023
Kerr breaks down his decision to go away from Wiggins pic.twitter.com/lkP2UfElTp
Now with Green sidelined for who knows how long, there’s a natural avenue for Golden State to figure out who should eat up those free minutes. Jonathan Kuminga is a natural choice, a forward who can bring athleticism and youth to the court. And having a bench player getting more minutes from the starter group opens the door up for the rest of the reserves to find more time.
This could be a silver lining for the Warriors’ season! Or this could set them up to be in trouble tonight against an L.A. Clippers team that has all the firepower needed to bring serious problems.
