Just three minutes on the floor Saturday night and the Chase Center witnessed one of their bravest Warriors, Draymond Green, leave after the initial timeout. Draymond had just returned from a three-game absence, only to find himself back on the injury report, with no confirmation on when he will return. This changes everything in the Golden State camp. With their defensive anchor and offensive connector now in doubt, how the team will adapt to fill the massive void left by his absence has left his teammate worried and heartbroken.

During the postgame press conference last night, Andrew Wiggins expressed concern over Draymond’s injury, stressing that his presence on the team is simply irreplaceable. “I mean a lot of changes… Draymond’s someone you can’t replace,” the Warriors star declared. “His IQ’s, defensive ability, playmaking, all that.” While Draymond’s impact hasn’t always been reflected in the stats this season, his influence has been clear in his leadership and ability to elevate his teammates. He’s like the silent force behind it all. So now, his absence will be a significant challenge for the franchise.

However, with this unfortunate situation now at hand, it has to be addressed. “Everybody collectively has to come up and you know, fill in his shoes,” Wiggins suggested. “It’s going to be tough for sure but you know we have the guys to do it.”

The Warriors sure secured a 122-114 victory against the Wizards, but at what cost? Draymond Green sustained a calf injury, though the severity of it couldn’t be determined. Later, head coach Steve Kerr said the team would have to wait for the MRI results to decide what’s next. “We will have to wait and see what the MRI shows tomorrow. Just kind of assess him the next couple of days and figure out what’s next,” he said.

The 34-year-old had already missed the previous three games because of illness and back issues and now this. With the competition intensifying, Kerr found himself in a tough spot. He had to find a solution. So, the HC named the player who would step up in Draymond’s absence.

Steve Kerr finds a solution for Warriors’ trouble

When Draymond Green stepped out last night, Kerr gave Moses Moody the chance to lace up. The 22-year-old impressed the coach, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds and an assist. And with that, Kerr decided to go with the youngster until the four-time champion returned to his usual duties.

“He (Draymond) obviously got the start. But Moses got the lion’s share of the minutes just based on how well he played,” Kerr told the media in the press conference. He further highlighted how well Moody fits in the role, “I think Moses really seems to thrive at the four. That’s a spot he’s comfortable with using his strength and then the ability to stretch the floor. I loved the effort and the energy from Moses tonight. I thought he played a huge role in that game, just with the force that, you know, that he came out with.”

And if his performance against the Wizards wasn’t enough, Kerr also pointed out, “He’s got some physicality to him. When he’s at the four he can stretch the floor and you know be a spacer and then attack closeouts. and if he’s at the four there’s other shooters generally around him at the, you know, one two and three. So, there’s some room for him.” Moody definitely knows how to move outside the paint and shoot effectively, creating more space to run the offense. Moody shot 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. His shooting could actually give the Warriors an edge over their opponents.

“He’s always played his best for us in this role, where he’s basically standing on the perimeter ready to shoot using his strength and his length. And just hustling, making hustle plays like he did tonight. and so, you know, if Draymond’s out for a little bit, then it’s a good chance for Moses to get a lot of minutes at that four spot,” Kerr confirmed.

So, while the Warriors will certainly miss Draymond, they might be in good hands with Moody stepping up. Moreover, with top-notch medical care, Draymond could be back on the hardwood sooner to resume his veteran duties, though it all depends on the MRI results.