With the NBA playoffs just around the corner, one of the most highly-anticipated matchups will be the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Led by the shooting of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Golden State is one of the league's most intriguing and entertaining squads. They may have a big advantage over the Clips in Round 1 as well-at the same time it could be their downfall.
Injuries have struck at a poor time for the Warriors; power forward David Lee has just returned from a strained hamstring and associated nerve pain, and defensive anchor Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely with a broken rib.
After missing seven games, Lee said he felt good outside of some fatigue. "I was wondering with a back-to-back whether I'd even be able to go," Lee said. "But I actually felt better. That's been the most encouraging thing. As I've gotten warmed up and pushed, it's felt better as I go along. My legs were completely gassed by the end, as was the rest of my body, but I was able to get through it."
That is perhaps music to the Warriors' ears, since the likely fill-in would be second-year forward Harrison Barnes. He averaged 16 points and six rebounds in the 2013 playoffs, and looked like a breakout candidate in the making, but has regressed this season.
The Warriors' worst two-man combinations this year almost all feature Barnes, whose production has remained startlingly equal to his rookie totals despite three minutes per game extra. In theory, his perimeter shooting and quickness would be death to Los Angeles' ultra-big frontcourt of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but Golden State's offense seems to fall off a cliff when Barnes plays.
Their bottom eight five-man units all include Barnes, whose PER has dipped two points from his rookie campaign. It is worrisome news for a team that will need shooting and production in excess against an efficient frontcourt that will prey on the lack of Bogut.
This is not to say the Warriors have no shot because of Barnes. He's still capable of moments like this:
He also proved he can rise up to the challenge of playoff pressure. He will need to though if the Warriors want to repeat their 2013 heroics, or even move beyond them.
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