Along with the ancient LA Clippers, the Golden State Warriors are trying a bold tact this season: trotting out an historically old team while believing you have a legitimate shot at winning a championship.
Golden State will most likely be starting a lineup that comprises some incredibly decorated talent. 11-time All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, 37, and 10-time All-Defensive Team power forward Draymond Green, 35, will be joined by six-time All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler, 36, and former five-time All-Star center Al Horford, 39, in the first five.
Young players like 22-year-old Brandin Podziemski and 23-year-old Moses Moody are competing to fill out that group as the Warriors’ starting shooting guard next to Curry. 32-year-old Buddy Hield is ostensibly in the running for that gig, too.
Unfortunately, the advanced age of the Warriors’ best players leaves the team vulnerable to injuries at a more frequent rate than their younger competition throughout the Western Conference.
Per Anthony Slater of ESPN, Butler is already ailing even ahead of the regular season.
Head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that the 6-foot-7 Marquette product will sit out the Warriors’ preseason road clash on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after straining his ankle during a Friday team practice. Kerr suggested that the ankle is still swollen, but the injury is considered fairly minor.
Golden State anticipates that Butler could be back as soon as Friday for the last contest in the Warriors’ preseason slate, a home matchup at Chase Center against the aforementioned other old fringe-contender West team, the Clippers.
The Warriors have gone 2-1 in the preseason so far. Podziesmki starred in Golden State’s most recent preseason matchup, a 126-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. With Butler, Curry, Moody and Horford sitting, Podziemski got the most touches on the team, scoring 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor (3-of-7 from distance), while also dishing out eight dimes, grabbing five boards and swiping a steal in 25:33.
In his 30 regular season bouts for the Warriors last year upon arriving via trade from the Miami Heat, Butler averaged 17.9 points on .476/.279/.870 shooting splits, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while singlehandedly helping elevate the team’s defense to elite status. Golden State went 23-7 in those games, en route to a solid 48-34 season finish and an eventual second-round playoff exit, with both Butler and Curry ailing during the team’s semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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