USA Today via Reuters
Nov 30, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11), guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Draymond Green (23) after the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 30, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11), guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Draymond Green (23) after the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors were only going to be down one man – Draymond Green. And while that was a big downer, they were going against the 14th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the rest of the squad were more than enough to get the party going. But in a somewhat shocking update, two more players have joined the injury report as the Dubs get ready to face a short-handed Blazers team. Green, who was questionable yesterday, is ‘Out’ due to right knee contusion.
Thompson, who wasn’t even on the injury report, joined DrayMagic with right knee tendonitis and will be sidelined. Anthony Slater also listed Gary Payton II as ‘questionable’ with calf tightness. Shockingly, there was more.
Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are both out tonight in Portland. Gary Payton II is now questionable with calf tightness. The Warriors will try to beat the 21-58 Blazers without a chunk of their rotation, setting up a huge back-to-back at home tomorrow vs Pelicans.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 11, 2024
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And in the latest update by NBC Sports reporter Dalton Johnson, GP II is also ‘Out,’ as per Steve Kerr. The Warriors are now down to two key starters.
GP2 is out with left calf tightness tonight, Steve Kerr tells reporters in Portland
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 12, 2024
While their opponents aren’t the biggest threat, the situation that the GSW find themselves in right now can be the undoing of a win tonight. At halftime, the Warriors led by three points at 46-49 and managed to win the game 100-92.
That was exactly what Coach Kerr would be hoping that his shorthanded crew would defeat the Portland Trail Blazers so he can play with a full team against the New Orleans Pelicans next. A tougher team than Blazers for sure, as they are barely hanging on to their sixth position. Given that they would do anything to avoid a play-in situation, the Pelicans will fight tooth and nail.
But it would also be desperate. If the Warriors can find the chink in the armor and a healthy team in tow, the chances that they can improve their current standing could be an achievable feat. But is that all the Pelicans are capable of?
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The Pelicans can be the godmother the Warriors need to climb as high as 8
Interestingly, New Orleans’ final three games can impact the GSW’s seeding to a great extent. They won the Sacramento matchup 135-123. Of course, with the Dubs beating the Blazers and the rest of their coming opponents, they will be ahead of the Lakers.
But if both the Kings and Suns lose, it will be in the best interests of Steph and Co. Unfortunately, the said teams face off tomorrow. Since both of them cannot lose, there isn’t much the Dubs can bank on there. And this is where the Pelicans come into the picture again.
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Besides their loss to the Warriors, New Orleans’ victory over the LA Lakers in the final game of the season will be the cherry on top. An added incentive is that the Pelicans can get the Purple & Gold’s first-round picks this year. So, the win is also in their own self-interest, when it comes down to the wire.
