Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 5 vs. Blazers
1. Extra Rest Is Needed
Speaking of rest, it’s a damn good thing the Warriors closed out their second round series against Portland in Game 5. Not only does it limit their fatigue by avoiding an unnecessary Game 6 or even Game 7, but it gives this hobbled team time to recuperate before the real challenge begins.
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According to the NBA, the conference finals are scheduled to begin on May 17, four days from now. They could be moved up to May 15 or 16, depending on how quickly the other remaining second round series wrap up.
If the Thunder close out the Spurs in Game 6, the start date of the Western Conference Finals could be moved up a day or two, but in either case, the Warriors will get a few extra days to rest their banged up players.
Giving Curry a few extra days off will be helpful, but it’ll also be huge for Andrew Bogut (who left Game 5 with an strained right adductor) and Draymond Green (who tweaked his left ankle in Game 5 and had to have it re-taped in the locker room).
The next few days off will be important for Draymond Green, he'll start anti-inflammatories for left ankle tonight & get treatment.
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) May 12, 2016
Green was able to return to Game 5, and though he was hobbled, finished the game. He didn’t have the same explosion, however, and he’s irreplaceable in Golden State’s lineup on both ends of the floor. The extra few days off will give him time to heal before a high-octane matchup with either the Spurs or Thunder.
As for Bogut, the Warriors have a capable replacement on hand in Festus Ezeli if need be. But Ezeli had struggled to earn minutes in Kerr’s rotation at times this postseason (for whatever reason), and even if he were fully capable of replacing Bogut, having to play Anderson Varejao at backup center is a loss in and of itself.
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Thanks to Curry’s late-game heroics and Thompson’s third quarter explosion in Game 5, the Warriors have a chance to get back to full health before facing their toughest test yet of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.