D’Angelo Russell is eyeing his return to the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are getting the wind knocked out of them and they are running out of time to change the tides. D’Angelo Russell might be this team’s last chance of having a notable season.
Russell has not played in over two weeks since injuring his thumb against the Boston Celtics. According to Steve Kerr, D-Lo could make his return to the team soon.
D’Angelo Russell is “making progress” he’s not going to play in Orlando or Atlanta but the team is targeting a return during the trip, Warriors say.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) November 30, 2019
Before falling to injury, Russell was averaging 24.3 points and 6.7 assists per game. He was just beginning to hit his stride, scoring a career-high 52 points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Without Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson in the lineup, the Warriors have no offensive leader. Draymond Green is still an elite playmaker and defender but he is not a reliable scoring option. This is why Russell is so vital to the team.
Russell’s talent as a playmaker and scorer will open things up for the Warriors. The franchise will no longer rely on inexperienced players but rather an All-Star caliber talent in D-Lo.
Sadly, Russell won’t turn the Warriors into title contenders. The team has just a 1-9 record with Russell in the lineup and doesn’t have enough supporting pieces to make a playoff push. Sitting at the bottom of the league standings, the Warriors can count themselves out of any postseason talks.
However, this doesn’t mean D-Lo can’t change the culture. The Warriors will no longer be pushovers with a star like Russell in the game. This season gives D-Lo an opportunity to prove that he is capable of being a longterm member of the team.
Golden State is still going to drop a ton of games but they will at least be more entertaining with Russell on the floor. This season will be focused on growth and D-Lo’s development is the most important thing to keep track of.