Category: Golden State Warriors Blog

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On the new Warriors ‘death lineup’

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle on the fun and games the Warriors are unleashing in the form of a new ‘death lineup’ edition:

The Golden State Warriors thrashed the visiting Denver Nuggets for the second straight game on Monday, and the debate erupted right on time. Are the Warriors on their way back? Is the Chase Center as rowdy as the Oracle? Will fans of Joel Embiid ever say something positive about Nikola Jokic? These are all direct questions, and perhaps someone has the time to respond. But there was another issue floating around, one that sparked a collective frenzy: What in the world are we meant to call Golden State’s new death lineup?

For the seven or eight of you not in the know, the (original) death lineup was not an influential 1980s anarcho-crust band but a name lovingly bestowed way back in the 2014-15 season on the genre-bending five-man unit of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green. Skilled playmakers, elite shooting, aggressive long-limbed defenders — this was essentially the platonic ideal of winning small-ball. Steve Kerr (nice guy, good-looking guy!) wisely leaned into this dangerous lineup during the playoffs, and it propelled the Golden State Warriors to their first championship in 40 years. The following season, the same lineup hammered the league nightly and won the most regular season games in NBA history and nothing bad happened after that. And of course, the next year the rich got richer and switched out solid New Republic subscriber Harrison Barnes for human inferno Kevin Durant. The death lineup became the megadeath lineup. And then Durant left. Iguodala was traded. Klay and Steph were injured. Draymond’s attention wandered. The death lineup, for all intents and purposes, was dead.

Hopefully, the league has recovered from its collective death lineup fatigue after a two-year hiatus, because the death lineup is back, thanks in large part to Jordan Poole’s progress and a timely extended hot streak. This is Warriors Dynasty basketball at its finest. That all-too-familiar barrage. It is quite lovely to watch in real time. A deficit turned into a rout in an alchemical blur, life-affirming orderly chaos. It is never boring to watch the life drain from the opposition’s eyes as they do a more-than-acceptable job up until the dam bursts.

Health update on Warriors guard Stephen Curry

Per the Golden State Warriors, guard Stephen Curry, who has missed the team’s last seven games after suffering a sprained ligament in his left foot on March 16 against the Boston Celtics, is making good progress in his recovery process.

He has spent the last two weeks performing various rehabilitation exercises in the training and weight rooms under the guidance of the team’s performance staff.

He will gradually begin individual on-court activities next week, and his eventual return to practice will be based on his continued progress.

The next update on his status will be provided on April 11.

Per the Bay Area News Group, “Curry could still be cleared to start as early as Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs, which begin on April 16. The 34-year-old is “progressing” in his rehab and could start individual on-court workouts next week. “We’ve known that was going to be the case,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We were hoping maybe he could play one, two games at the end of the regular season but that was a long shot. This is how it’s turned out. His rehab is going fine.””

Warriors center James Wiseman remains out until 2022-23 NBA season

Per the Golden State Warriors, center James Wiseman, who has missed the first 73 games of the 2021-22 season after undergoing surgery on April 15, 2021 to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Wiseman appeared in three games with the Santa Cruz Warriors earlier this month, averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, but recently experienced swelling in his right knee.

“We’ve maintained throughout his entire rehabilitation process that we’re going to be patient and look out for James’ best interests in what we anticipate to be a long and successful career,” said Warriors President of Basketball Operations / General Manager Bob Myers. “As a 20 year-old, his entire career is ahead of him. For us, as an organization, our focus is on James’ long-term health and we’re confident—and our doctors are confident—that this long-term approach will help James become the player we believe he will evolve into when he returns to the court.”

Warriors forward Draymond Green fined by NBA

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $25,000 for directing profane language toward a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

Green received two technical fouls and was ejected with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 110-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on March 20 at Chase Center.

Warriors center James Wiseman not ready to return yet

Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman was set to make his return to action quite soon. Until he wasn’t. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

James Wiseman’s anticipated return to the Warriors has been stalled as he deals with knee swelling. How long he’ll be shut down is to be determined, but his prolonged absence could create issues for the Warriors’ center depth and have the team brass second-guessing the decision not to add another big.

This is not to say the Warriors are short on talent at the center position. One of Golden State’s strongest competitive advantages heading into the playoffs is Draymond Green’s versatility: He can play power forward or center, operating as the team’s defensive anchor and offensive engine in either position. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney has started every Warriors game this season, playing the role of steady defender and low-use offensive player.

But how much wear and tear can Green and Looney endure at the five?

Warriors guard Stephen Curry injury update

A terrific Golden State Warriors season has hit a roadblock. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

Warriors star Steph Curry will miss an indefinite amount of time with a sprained ligament in his left foot, according to reports.

Curry injured his foot when Marcus Smart rolled over his leg during Wednesday night’s game against the Celtics. Curry had an MRI and X-rays that did not reveal a fracture or major damage to the ligaments…

Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson played together on Monday for the first time in 1,005 days only to be broken up again by injury a game later.

The regular season ends April 10. Hopefully Curry is able to be 100 percent, or somewhat close, by the start of the playoffs.

Warriors will soon have James Wiseman back in action

The Golden State Warriors will soon have young talented center James Wiseman back in action. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

The Warriors recalled James Wiseman Wednesday from his G League assignment in Santa Cruz, which could mean the center is nearing his NBA return.

The 7-foot center is listed as out for the Warriors’ game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, but general manager Bob Myers didn’t rule out a return against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Chase Center.

The Warriors’ brass will make a decision following three practice days between games.

“It’s kind of up in the air,” Myers said on a segment with 95.7 The Game on Tuesday. “We’re gonna have a few days off here and practice together. We’ll see how that goes. We’ll decide whether he needs another G League game or if he’s ready to go and Steve will put him in the rotation.

The Warriors are 47-22, third in the West, right behind the 48-22 Memphis Grizzlies.

2022 NBA Japan Games, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, feature Wizards vs. Warriors

The NBA and Rakuten Group, Inc., today announced that the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors will play two preseason games in Japan in 2022.

The NBA Japan Games 2022 will take place Friday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 2 at Saitama Super Arena outside of Tokyo, marking the Wizards’ first trip to Japan and the league’s 15th and 16th games in the country.

“We are so honored to represent the NBA and the wonderful game of basketball in front of an audience of Japanese fans,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder & CEO, Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “We are particularly excited to watch Rui Hachimura play in front of his fellow Japanese citizens. We were proud to welcome him into the DC Family nearly three years ago as a dynamic young talent and have only seen his growth as a player since. And our fans across our home market in Washington D.C. have a special connection to the Japanese people – marked by our annual celebration of the gift of cherry trees given to our city by the Mayor of Tokyo over 100 years ago. Celebrating American and Japanese cultures further strengthens our bonds and so we look forward to taking on the Golden State Warriors and growing new fans of the sport we all love.”

“I am very excited to bring Wizards basketball to Japan,” said Hachimura. “I cannot wait to see the arena filled with fans getting to see NBA basketball in person.”

Warriors forward Draymond Green aims to return next week

Here’s the San Jose Mercury News with a report direct from Warriors forward Draymond Green that he expects to be back in action soon:

The Warriors had no target date for the return of Draymond Green Monday night, but Green has one in mind.

Green went further than coach Steve Kerr would on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.”

“By the way, I am targeting my return next Monday, the 14th, vs. the Wizards. That is the date that I have targeted,” Green said. “I’m as excited as hell. It’s been two months, almost two and a half by the time I play. I have never missed that much time during a season. I once had an ankle injury that kept me out for a long time in high school. This is something different for me. I’m extremely excited to get back out there with my guys to try to help right this ship.”

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