What Draymond’s Likely Absence vs. Nuggets Means for Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
DENVER – The last two players to leave the court after Warriors practice Monday at Ball Arena were the two who did not see the court in the second half of Saturday night’s loss to the Suns in Phoenix.
While Moses Moody had a lengthy conversation with coach Steve Kerr after practice, Kyle Anderson’s role could be boosted Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets due to some unfortunate news for the Warriors. Draymond Green did not practice Monday due to tight left calf, and the Warriors initially considered him questionable for the next day’s game.
In an attempt to snap a four-match losing streak, Kerr took Green’s status one step further after practice, making it clear he doesn’t expect him to play.
“I would call it questionable,” Kerr said. ‘We have to be careful. … Doubtful tomorrow, we’ll see how it holds up.”
That changes the Warriors’ identity immensely, especially when they try to contain Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokić, who essentially does it all offensively for his team. The three-time NBA MVP leads the Nuggets in points per game (29.6), rebounds per game (13.2), assists per game (10.7) and is tied for the team lead in steals per game (1.5). Jokić also ranks second on the team in field goal percentage (56.2 percent) and 3-point percentage (50.8 percent).
There is no stopping him, only the hope of containing him, which Anderson has done to some extent in the past.
No one on the Minnesota Timberwolves guarded Jokić more last season, not even four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Anderson spent just over 13 minutes guarding Jokić in four regular-season games, and Joker scored 35 points on 11 of 20 shooting but committed three turnovers with just one assist.
For comparison, Green played Jokić once last season, for a total of seven minutes and thirteen seconds. In that span, Jokić scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting and had six assists without a turnover, but made just one of his four three-point attempts. In all, Jokić finished with a triple-double of 32 points, 16 rebound and 16 assists in a 16-point win in Golden State Green’s only game last season.
Anderson’s combination of size, 6-foot-4 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and a top-notch basketball IQ gives him the ability to disrupt Jokić at times, Kerr believes.
“He’s got long arms, he’s very strong and he’s got a big brain,” Kerr said of Anderson. “He’s smart – smart, smart, smart. Kyle just understands angles. He knows the trends, he knows the scouting report, he watches basketball and he loves the game. He knows what people are trying to achieve.
“Kyle is really good defensively.”
After whistling and shaking his head, Anderson revealed the near-impossible task of trying to guard Jokić.
“He’s a nightmare down low on the block, on the elbow. When he rebounds the ball 30 yards, he can hit you with outlet passes that not many players in the league can make,” Anderson said. “He really is a nightmare when he steps onto the ground from all areas.”
As Kerr navigates how to best utilize the Warriors’ deep rotation, Anderson is averaging just 15 minutes per game, his lowest since his third year in the NBA. But the 11-year veteran ranks second on the team in defensive rating at 100.9.
Anderson appreciates Kerr’s openness and honesty when it comes to his fluctuating minutes and role for his new team, shrugging off any hint of hostility.
“Steve just let me know what was going on,” Anderson explained. “Some places you get buried and you don’t hear from the head coach, so just hearing from Steve meant a lot to me.”
Center Kevon Looney, who has not started a game during the 2024-25 NBA season but did start the second half on Saturday in Phoenix, has the Warriors’ highest defensive rating (99.8). Looney also saw Jokić the most of any Warriors player last season, guarding him for 25 minutes. Jokić had 42 points and 13 assists, but also turned the ball over four times and was 3 of 11 from deep.
Trayce Jackson-Davis has started every game at center for the Warriors so far this season and played seven minutes against Jokić as a rookie last year. Jackson-Davis fouled Jokić five times, leading to 12 free throw attempts, and the older big man scored 18 points – including 10 free throws – along with three assists but two turnovers.
“What we really want to take away is his passing,” Jackson-Davis said. “By providing his assists, involving his teammates, we know he will score. He’s taken on a lot this year, especially as a scorer, so if we can take some of his guys off and obviously double him, do what we need to do… it’s going to be a tough, physical game.”
The two traditional centers, Jackson-Davis and Looney, will see a lot of Jokić and will likely make the first attempt to cut down the tree. One game ago, it looked like Anderson might be out of the rotation.
Now he could be the antidote needed to slow Jokić down just enough so the Warriors don’t lose their fifth straight game, as well as their eighth straight when playing the Nuggets. Green’s likely absence will require nothing less than a full team effort.
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