Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Clippers
3. Boogie’s absence was not the problem
Less than four minutes into the game, DeMarcus Cousins poked away a Clippers pass and fell to the ground chasing down the loose ball into the backcourt. What initially looked like a clumsy trip turned out to be a non-contact injury that would sideline him for the rest of the night.
TNT‘s Kristen Ledlow reported it was indeed a left quad injury, and that he would receive an MRI within the next 24 hours.
Boogie went back to the locker room after this play with apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/WgzWjxA17B
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2019
This is obviously an upsetting turn of events for Boogie, and potentially devastating for his one-year redemption tour in the Bay Area. However, all concern and well wishes should be directed his way, and not toward the defending champs, since they’ll be just fine — and arguably more dangerous — without him.
During the regular season, the Dubs were a +530 overall. They were +465 with him off the court, but just +65 in the 30 games he played. In Game 1, which they won by 17 points, they were a -17 in Cousins’ 21 minutes. Even in his three and a half minutes in Game 2, he was a -1 in a contest his team would lead by 31 at one point.
Without diving into the on/off numbers, Cousins’ comeback tour was a happy story. The Dubs were less than their fullest selves with him on the court, and his absence certainly wasn’t the reason they blew such a massive lead on Monday.
It’d be neat to watch him enjoy a legitimate championship run for the first time in his career, even if his role was gradually reduced with each passing round. Having it potentially reduced all the way to “spectator” would be a truly unfortunate turn of events for Cousins, especially as he approaches free agency and a well-deserved pay day.
There's significant concern that DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a torn left quad, but there won't be complete certainty until his MRI on Tuesday, league sources tell ESPN. The hope is that it's just a strain.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2019
As for the Warriors themselves, though? Despite one of the worst collapses of the Steve Kerr era, their championship hopes are still firmly intact. Kevin Looney’s +30 in 17 minutes in Game 1, plus a +1 as he went for a career-high 19 points in Game 2, is just the latest evidence pointing to the Dubs being perfectly fine — and arguably even more unassailable — without their recently injured big man.