The Warriors may be heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Suns without their starting backcourt, and the timing couldn’t be much tougher on a second night of a back-to-back.
Brandin Podziemski aggravated a back issue in Friday’s loss to Memphis, even after logging 33 minutes and scoring 18 points. Podziemski had already sat out the team’s opener against the Lakers. Stephen Curry also sounded doubtful after the game, saying he would “probably not” play on Saturday after putting up 24 points in 30 minutes against the Grizzlies.
If both guards are sidelined, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are in line to absorb most of those minutes.
Friday’s 111-108 loss wasn’t just about availability, though. The Warriors let a game slip away in brutal fashion, surrendering 17 straight points over the final four minutes.
Steve Kerr didn’t hide his frustration afterward, telling ESPN’s Anthony Slater, “Eight different things had to happen,” Kerr said, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “If any one of those eight doesn’t happen, I think we win.
It was just an avalanche.” He also picked up a technical foul during the late collapse, convinced Memphis was getting away with repeated screening action.
“We probably had six illegal screens tonight,” Kerr said. “The flopping that was happening on every single one, it looked like guys were going down like they had been hit by a car.”
Al Horford, meanwhile, is bracing for more responsibility with Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely because of health issues. In an interview with Mark Medina of Fadeawayworld.net, Horford made clear that the group will have to absorb the loss collectively.
“It is a big challenge for us,” he said. “The way that I’m approaching it is that I have to do a little more.
But Dray (Draymond Green) has to step up, I have to step up. Some of our younger guys are going to have more opportunities.
Graham [Ike] and (Charles) Bassey are going to have to step in and play. At this point, that’s all we can do.
I’ve been in a position on teams before where we all have to pick up the slack for others. This isn’t any different now.”
And Yaxel Lendeborg doesn’t sound interested in dialing back his edge. The rookie, who exchanged words with Luka Doncic in the opener, said the back-and-forth is part of who he is.
“Like, c’mon now. He’s gonna say what he wants to say, I’m gonna say what I want to say,” the first-round pick said.
“I’m not afraid to talk to nobody, man. He’s not Michael Jordan.
C’mon now. It’s fun trash-talk.
I feel like I did kind of take it overboard in the media, but it is what it is.”
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