With each day, Warriors forward and defensive lynchpin Draymond Green seems closer and closer to a return to the court. While that wasn’t always the case (see “no light at the end of the tunnel” comments from earlier this season), recent stretches of news have Green being a more full participant in the team drills than he was even just a week and a half ago:

“Moving really well, healthy, confident, as you might expect… Even talking a little trash” Steve Kerr joked on Damon and Ratto’s segment for 95.7 The Game earlier today after the team’s practice. “It was great to have him in the gym, and it was great to see him looking so good… We expect him back for sure in the coming weeks.”

The Warriors have slid a bit defensively in Green’s absence. For a long stretch of the year, the Dubs were the only team to post a sub-100 defensive rating, and while they’re still the league’s leaders, the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns are right on their tails. A lot of recent losses can be attributed to a lack of defensive execution as well, a lack of execution which Kerr’s teams have not been identified by in seasons past.

Green’s timeline would indicate a return in late March, giving him only a little time before the playoffs. Regardless, Draymond is always known to step up his game big-time in the playoffs, so some time for him to return may not be as much of an issue as it would be for other guys.

Steph Curry has taken over primary playmaking duties in Green’s absence. When he has 7 or more assists, the Warriors are 19-6 this season, as opposed to 24-13 when he doesn’t. While it’s hard to find data on how many of those games Green has played in, the Warriors are also 21-2 when Green himself records 7 or more assists. It’s a testament to how good the team is with him as the playmaker. Not to detract from Curry, but usually Draymond directing the offense means that Curry is more prone to getting scoring looks as opposed to creating for others.

When Draymond Green does eventually play with both Steph and Klay Thompson, the Warriors are as good as any team in the league. The panic surrounding Golden State right now is problematic, of course, but it’s not nearly as deal-breaking as a lot of people seem to think it is. We cannot judge the product until it is fully in our sights.

(Photo credit: Golden State Warriors)