Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Golden State Warriors
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Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Golden State Warriors
Amid concern about how much the Golden State Warriors will actually get to see center Kristaps Porzingis on the floor in the upcoming stretch run, coach Steve Kerr tried to put a positive spin on the state of play with the big man amid another absence from the team. Porzingis made a 17-minute debut with the Warriors back on Thursday in the loss to the Celtics, his first game action since January 7.
Porzingis had been out with soreness in his left Achilles tendon dating back to before the trade that brought him to Golden State from the Hawks. But after his return to action following the All-Star break, Porzingis quickly went out again, this time with an illness that kept him out in Sunday’s win over the Nuggets. Now, Porzingis is out for the Warriors’ midweek back-to-back in New Orleans and Memphis, not even making the trip.
That’s a big red flag for Porzingis, who struggled to play for most of last season in Boston. He was diagnosed with an autonomic nervous system disorder known as POTS, which stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It’s an unpredictable ailment–it causes Porzingis’ heart rate to speed up and makes him dizzy just by standing up.
Kristaps Porzingis ‘Just Really Sick’
Speaking for the Warriors took the floor on Tuesday night, Kerr tried to down play the concern about Porzingis’ health–despite the fact that he has now played just 17 minutes in the six games since he was acquired from Atlanta. There is doubt within the organization that the risk to trade for Porzingis will pay off, that he can stay on the floor amid his illness.
Kerr, though, said there was hope that Porzingis would be well enough to get back on the floor on Saturday.
“He’s getting better,” Kerr said. “I didn’t talk to him today but our training staff did. He’s just been really sick, but making some improvements, so we’ll see how he is. It’s just an illness.”
Kerr was not specific, but he did say that Porzingis’ illness was a “bug.” Again, you can’t fault Kerr for being positive, but any illness for Porzingis comes with the worry that his POTS issues are still in force.
Warriors’ Pace, Space a Key
In the meantime, the Warriors are trying again to figure out how to stay afloat with point guard Stephen Curry still out because of a persistent knee injury, in addition to being without Jimmy Butler, who is gone for the season after tearing his ACL. The Warriors are 30-27, No. 8 in the West, after an impressive win over Denver. A pair of games against the tanking Pelicans and Grizzlies could be just what the team needs.
Kerr said it is important that the team do what it did against Denver–play with pace, and do so decisively.
“Our pace and ball movement,” Kerr said when asked how the team can carry over Sunday’s success. “We did a great job of running the floor. We have to play fast without Steph and Jimmy. We have to create advantages by really getting the floor spaced and just, you know, running early, running to the corners, establish eh spacing in the early part of the possession. It just makes everything go smoother. I thought that’s what we did well.”