Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension might have been the best thing to happen to the Warriors this season.
And in a twisted way, it might have been the best thing to happen to Green, too.
With the forward out of the lineup, Dubs coach Steve Kerr has been forced to play — and trust — the team’s young players, and they have provided both positive energy and positive play.
The win over the Celtics was no fluke. Sticking with Denver for all but the final few minutes (blame the altitude… or the refs) can’t be ignored, either. With Brandin Podziemski as a starter, Trayce Jackson-Davis as the team’s center of choice, and Jonathan Kuminga as an offensive focal point, the Warriors won five of their seven games without Green, including five in a row before Christmas.
The young Warriors have helped this team find its identity — Golden State is scrappy, smart, and small.
It’s reminiscent of the vibe the Warriors found at the end of the 2020-2021 season.
This time, instead of finding their best form in the final 20 games, they’ve found it ahead of the calendar’s flip to a new year.
The Warriors have not just looked good without Green — they’ve looked better.
But that, of course, raises some unsavory questions ahead of Green’s return to the lineup.
When that return happens is anyone’s guess — the joy of “indefinite” — but right now, NBA insiders are guessing Green will be reinstated in a week or so, bringing the span of his suspension to 12 or 13 games.
If the Warriors keep winning between now and then, it’s fair to wonder how Green will fit into the lineup.
Heaven forbid the Warriors mess up a good thing.