The Golden State Warriors are a team with remarkable depth and tremendous talent. For as deep as it may be, however, Golden State can ill afford to lose one of its most productive players this early in the season.
According to Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN, power forward David Lee made his 2014-15 NBA regular season debut and aggravated an injury in the same game.
"Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee aggravated a hamstring injury in his season debut Wednesday night.An MRI was scheduled for Thursday afternoon for the strain in his left hamstring, which he suffered in the final preseason game against the Denver Nuggets.Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Wednesday night’s 121-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers that he was uncertain about Lee’s prognosis.“He said it felt similar to the last one and we’ll see how he is tomorrow, but that’s a big blow for us because he’s one of our leading scorers and rebounders, great player, and a lot of different ways we can use him,” Kerr said. “So we’re going to miss David but hopefully we’re going to get him back 100 percent this time.”"
That’s not the debut that Lee and the Warriors were hoping for.
Lee, 31, played just seven minutes before going down with the hamstring injury. Beforehand, he was lighting the Clippers up for six quick points in those seven minutes on 3-of-4 shooting.
Per Diamond Leung of The Bay Area News Group, Lee will miss the Warriors’ upcoming road trip.
David Lee out for the road trip vs Houston, Phoenix
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) November 6, 2014
Lee is one of the most productive power forwards in the NBA, but he’s struggled with injuries in recent seasons. He missed much of Golden State’s 2013 Playoffs run and was absent for 13 games in 2013-14.
13 games isn’t a massive number, but it’s big enough for people to turn their focus to his injury replacement: Draymond Green.
Draymond Green don't wannna give up that starling spot
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 6, 2014
A career night will do that.
Green, heralded for his defense and versatility, put up a career-high 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block and a steal. He also sank a career-best four 3-point field goals in Golden State’s 121-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
This all transpired while Lee nursed his hamstring on the sidelines.
Green, 24, is the upside player who can play both small and power forward in Steve Kerr’s system. Lee, 31, is the incumbent whose production is marvelous, but injury comes at a time where Green is rising.
Regardless of whether or not he starts, Golden State needs Lee to be available in 2014-15.
In 2013-14, Lee averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He’s averaged no less than 16.5 points or 9.3 rebounds in any season since joining the Warriors in 2010-11.
As the 2014-15 season progresses, Lee’s hamstring will be a focal point in the Warriors’ development as contenders. Whether or not he’s starting, he’s the best interior scorer on the roster, which is a major factor in Kerr’s interpretation of the Triangle Offense.
The good news for Lee: it’s better to be injured in November than in April.