Golden State Warriors injuries are opening up new opportunities
By Tony Pesta
All of the Golden State Warriors’ recent injuries are opening up new opportunities for the team.
The Golden State Warriors are looking at life with a glass-half-full mentality.
After years of being a top dog in the Western Conference, the Dubs have had the rug pulled out from underneath them. A plethora of injuries has plagued the franchise with more and more key members being sidelined each week.
We already know of the ACL injury that halted Klay Thompson‘s NBA Finals run and the broken hand suffered by Stephen Curry. Now, a torn ligament in Draymond Green‘s hand will hold him for at least three more games.
This has put the Warriors playoff hopes in jeopardy. However, it may be a blessing in disguise.
As the Dubs roster has been thinned out, new players are being given the chance to prove themselves. This has led to certain prospects such as Eric Paschall emerging as valuable assets.
Paschall has stretched the floor for Golden State with his deep shooting ability. In his first two games as a starter, Paschall scored a total of 59 points on 21-of-37 shooting overall. In his performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, he dropped a career-high 34 points and knocked down 4-of-6 attempts from deep.
Had it not been for an injury to Green, Paschall may have never been given this opportunity. If he continues to play at a high level, it’s possible he will find a longterm spot on the roster.
Meanwhile, Alec Burks has shined off the bench. Burks scored a season-high 28 points versus the Houston Rockets and will continue to be a spark plug with the second unit.
These injuries have initiated a tryout session for all of the Dubs role players. A strong offseason will have the Warriors back in title contention next year. The question is, who will remain on the roster for this run?
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As of now, Paschall seems to be well on his way to punching his ticket with next year’s team. Hopefully, others will step up and prove themselves as worthy role players for the next season.