Kevon Looney feels “better than ever” about his increased play time in Draymond Green’s absence. He said Green has been supportive on and off court, sharing his defensive knowledge.
SAN FRANCISCO – The minute the Warriors provided a diagnosis of Draymond Green’s calf injury, concluding that it was connected to a disc in his lower back, caution signs went up. As well they should. Back issues can be particularly stubborn.
But with Green’s “reevaluation” day scheduled for Sunday, the Warriors don’t seem deeply concerned that this will linger enough to threaten his availability in the second half of the season.
One reason for tempered optimism might be that Draymond’s physical therapy sessions are, according to one source, strenuous enough to suggest he is not deeply incapacitated and that there is nothing to indicate the possibility of surgery.
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“It’s a nerve,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Tuesday. “And in this instance, that’s not a bad thing.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Draymond has been his usual self, describing his rehab in general terms as “a lot of different stuff.”
“He’s bringing his usual energy, and trash talking and trying to stay involved as much as possible,” Kerr said during in his pregame news conference prior to tipoff Tuesday night against the Mavericks at Chase Center. “He’s frustrated; he’d rather be playing. But he’s always in the thick of it, in the locker room, in the training room and on the court.”
That said, there is no certainty or timeline for Green’s return. With the number of setbacks related to the return of James Wiseman, the Warriors are being especially careful about offering projection.
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Green has missed the last eight games, actually nine if you add the eight-second cameo appearance on Jan. 9, the night Klay Thompson returned. The Warriors are 5-4 during that stretch.
Kerr acknowledged that Draymond’s absence, as well as that of Andre Iguodala, has prompted resulted in considerable rotation scrambling in effort to find ways to offset the loss of players who affect the game at both ends.
“As long as Draymond is out,” Kerr said, “anything is on the table, based on matchups.”
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