What Gary Payton II’s injury means for the Warriors
Gary Payton II has quickly become a fan favorite for his hustle on both ends of the floor, most notably his superb defense on the opposing team’s guards. So far in both games against the Grizzlies he has drawn the start with the task of guarding Ja Morant. But just three minutes into game two as he was going up for an uncontested layup, Grizzlies’ forward Dillion Brooks came from behind and swiped down on his head instead of the ball. Resulting in an awkward fall for Payton as he landed hard on his elbow and side. The play was reviewed, and Brooks was hit with a flagrant two and subsequently ejected just like Draymond was in game two. Here is the play in question-
According to Anthony Slater, Payton suffered a fractured left elbow and will have an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
A tough break for the Warriors and for Payton as it feels like he has battled his way to the top only to be thrown off by what can be described as a non-basketball play. Prior to this game Payton had become a spark off the bench so much so that Steve Kerr and company trusted him to start in this Memphis series. His offensive game has grown so much this season, his jump shot and ability to cut to the basket and find himself open really gave Golden State a boost when they needed it. He is the scrappy, fearless player that you love to have on your team but hate to play against.
The defensive end is where he shines though, as his nickname “The Young Glove,” fits him perfectly. Always being at the right place at the right time and having a knack for knowing the offensive player’s move before they do. If you need more proof of excellence on defense, look at game one’s box score. He held Ja Morant to 34 points on 31 shots. Granted 34 points is still a lot but it was a much more contained performance than we saw in game two where Morant scored 47 points without GP2’s presence. He also did a great job late game guarding Morant in game one and forced him to make or miss tough shots.
Now the Warriors will most likely have to play without him for the rest of the playoffs. All because of a one in a million “dirty” play. When asked after the game Steve Kerr said, “He (Brooks) broke the code.”
Which basically means if you see a guy going up for a wide-open dunk, layup, or any shot where he is vulnerable, you do not pull him down or try to take him out of the air. The only exception is if you try to help the opponent or break their fall but that wasn’t the case for Brooks. Dirty play or not, the Warriors will have to look to bounce back in game three on Saturday. With all that being said, they did win the first game without Draymond, so they know a thing or two about having that next man up mentality.
Wiggins and Klay will have to step up defensively and offensively as they both have had somewhat underwhelming games against Memphis. In theory they both will see a fair share of Morant in game three without GP2. This could open up an opportunity for Jonathan Kuminga, who played a solid fourteen minutes in both games against the Grizzlies. I like the idea of letting the nineteen-year-old battle with Morant as he should have the freshest legs on the team. He also has a lot of pride and composure when out there so the Warriors should look to him if all else fails.
But they are still a deep team and with the trio of Steph, Klay, and Draymond, anything is possible. Add Jordan Poole and Wiggins to the mix and I think the Warriors will be okay for the most part. They will just have to lock in as a unit defensively without one of their best on ball defenders. Lastly, I think I speak for all of Dub Nation when I say we are rooting for GP2 and wish him a speedy and healthy recovery.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Brandon Dill)