On March 18, 2022, Beijing time, the Warriors had news that everyone did not want to see, that is, the core of the team, Stephen Curry, will be absent for a long time due to a sprain of the left foot ligament, and may not return until the playoffs. This news also makes the Warriors look very helpless, and there has been a good news recently, which is also a comfort for them!
According to Chris Haynes, multiple league sources revealed that Warriors guard Gary Payton II intends to make a comeback against the Spurs on Monday after two weeks of absence due to sore left knee.
After Payton Jr. was injured, the Warriors' defense dropped directly by more than one notch, and his one inside and one outside with Green is the reason why the Warriors can play well. Without Payton Jr., the Warriors' outside line will not have a single-defense opposite the core player's gate players, and the entire Warriors' defensive system has been greatly affected!
So for the Warriors, the comeback of Peyton Jr. is bound to bring a very big change to the team on the defensive end, after Green has completed his comeback, and now Peyton Jr. will also return to the team, the Warriors' defensive system will be rebuilt again, and the team is likely to return to the state of having top defense at the beginning of the season!
Although Curry is injured, the Warriors still have a good lineup depth, and should be able to withstand the pressure before Curry returns and strive to stabilize their ranking. Once Curry returns, the all-work Warriors are still worth the fans' expectations and remain one of the teams with the best chance of competing for the title this season!