The Warriors are expected to get Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green and Al Horford back for Monday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets, but the injury report still leaves Golden State with some real rotation uncertainty.
Gui Santos is questionable after leaving Saturday’s loss to the Suns in the third quarter with left knee tendinitis. Brandon Williams, dealing with lower back soreness, is probable, and Charles Bassey, who has knee tendinitis, is also probable.
Denver has its own list to sort through. Starting forward Cameron Johnson is doubtful with an ankle injury, while guard Alpha Diallo is doubtful because of a wrist issue. Forward Spencer Jones is out with a hamstring injury, and guard Julian Strawther is out with a knee injury.
Even when Santos is available, the Warriors have already had to lean on three-guard looks. If he can’t play, that path becomes even more likely for Steve Kerr, because Golden State is already stretched thin on the wing and in the frontcourt.
A projected depth chart without Santos would leave Curry, Williams and LJ Cryer at point guard, Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Will Richard and Gary Payton II at shooting guard, Yaxel Lendeborg at small forward, Green and Georges Niang at power forward, and Graham Ike, Horford and Bassey at center.
That kind of setup makes it hard for Kerr to avoid small lineups, even if Lendeborg and Green soak up heavy minutes at the forward spots. And against Denver, the size problem is obvious. The Warriors would already have a tough enough time trying to handle Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets’ offense with a full deck.
The center situation has already created some unusual early-season decisions. Before the season, it would have been hard to picture Ike starting two of Golden State’s first three games. But with Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely with a health issue, Bassey limited by knee tendinitis, Kerr preferring Green at the 4 and Horford off the bench in the second game, then sitting Green and Horford entirely in the third, the rotation got pushed into that direction.
Monday gives Kerr several options at the five. He could stick with Ike after his solid play.
He could turn to Bassey, who was more impressive than Ike in the preseason and someone I believe the Dubs will eventually start. He could use Horford, who at least has real experience guarding Jokic.
Or he could go small with Green at center, though that feels less likely than the other choices.
The bigger question may not be who starts, but who logs the most minutes and whether all three centers even see the floor. However Kerr handles it, Golden State needs someone who can at least make Jokic work.
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