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3 reasons the Golden State Warriors championship aspirations aren’t in peril

By Nathan Beighle

April 12, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 12, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Why Warriors aspirations aren’t in peril: Draymond Green’s return

The Golden State Warriors haven’t played well since Draymond Green has been sidelined.

Green missed the All-Star Game, which he was chosen for, and continued his rehab. He hasn’t played since January 9, and while the Warriors are still in 2nd place in the West, their grip on the spot is slipping.

Without Green, the Warriors’ defensive rating has been drastically lower.

They still have the No. 1 defensive rating on the season, but over their last 15 games, it has dropped to 14th in the NBA. A candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, Green is key to the team’s defensive success.

The Warriors are 8.8 points per 100 possessions better than their opponent with Green on the court. They’re 13-9 without Green over the past several weeks. They’re just 2-5 over their last 7.

The struggles will continue without Green, but when he’s in the lineup, this team is a different beat on both ends of the court, and the near-term future may not reflect a championship-level team, but once he returns, they should be just fine.

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