Draymond Green
Draymond Green is the Warriors' starting small-ball center and a high-assist, low-scoring defender for now. He is expected to play about 26 to 30 minutes, and his back is a small concern after he missed one game.
Role
The SF Standard (Oct 17) says Green is starting at center because Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely. Al Horford, 40, has not played back-to-backs in years and is on a minutes limit, and Charles Bassey is described as unproven. Through two regular-season games Green averaged 26.0 minutes, 7.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 points (ESPN, checked Oct 26). He played 21 minutes at the Lakers and 31 minutes against Memphis. He sat out Saturday in Phoenix, the second night of a back-to-back, with bilateral low back soreness. He was not on the injury report for Monday's game against Denver (NBA.com and ESPN). Last season he averaged 27.5 minutes, and the SF Standard says he likely won't exceed 30 per game. In February, Steve Kerr said the staff plays almost all of Green's minutes with Stephen Curry when Curry is healthy. I did not find a confirmed starting five for Monday or a stated back-to-back rest plan.
With Porzingis out and Horford limited, Green has a clear path to starter minutes at center. He takes on playmaking in the five-out offense. His preseason turnovers were low, at 1.5 per game over four games, and he averaged 6.3 assists. The SF Standard read that as a sign he is locked in and has accepted the adjusted role. Kerr also wants him to shoot open threes, and Green has started with 7.0 assists per game.
Last season the Warriors were 3.9 points per 100 possessions better with Green on the bench, and the lineups with him at center were less effective. He is 36, and his back has already cost him a game. His scoring is minimal: 3.5 points per game so far on a 37.5 percent field goal rate (ESPN). Turnovers and foul trouble are also concerns, with 5 turnovers and 5 fouls in the Memphis loss. Kerr would rather limit his time at center because of the physical toll. Last season's line in our data covers only 2 games and 104 minutes.
Where analysts split
The open question is how much center Green plays. The SF Standard says Green at center is the default while Porzingis is out. RotoWire's analysis says Kerr wants to limit his center minutes and balance them with his usual power forward role. Nothing I found settles when Porzingis returns, and that return would change Green's role.
Injury: Out: assessed ignore
Back, rest for back-to-back
Green is sitting the first leg of a back-to-back as a planned rest/maintenance move and is expected back Monday against Phoenix, so it's a single-game absence.
What would change this: Whether he's active for Monday's game against the Suns
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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