Game 2 was a rough night for the Golden State Warriors, but it was far more difficult for shooting guard Gary Payton II.
Payton II has struggled to find his place in the NBA for his entire career. He is 29 years old and had yet to play over 30 games in a season until this past year. He’s found a home in Golden State, and after a dirty play from guard Dillon Brooks, it looks like Payton II’s postseason is done.
The Golden State Warriors likely won’t have Gary Payton II for the remainder of the postseason, and they’ll need some players to step up in a big way.
Payton II turned into more than just a spark off the bench. He is arguably the team’s best perimeter defender and was asked to guard Grizzlies star Ja Morant. Morant put up 47 points in Game 2, a battle of which Payton II missed more than 80%.
In Game 1, Payton scored 8 points, was 4-for-5 from the field, and also hauled down 4 offensive boards. He also made the most important play of the game which was forcing Morant into a difficult shot with the Warriors up 1 and the clock ticking to zero in the fourth quarter.
It’ll be impossible to replace what Payton II gave to this team in the form of energy and athleticism. These three players could make his absence sting a bit less though.