SAN FRANCISCO – Two hours before tipoff against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was sitting at a podium giving a false answer to a routine question.Question: Is everyone good to go?
Answer: Everyone’s good to go.
Not true. Everyone on Golden State’s roster is NOT ‘good to go.’
The projected starting center, Kristaps Porziis, is good but unable to go. He was not on the bench at Chase Center to watch a 124-98 preseason rout over a B squad of Lakers. The skilled 7-foot-2 Latvian missed training camp last week with a “health issue,” and there is no prognosis for his return.
Which results in an unwanted domino effect. With Porziis unavailable Sunday in Honolulu for the preseason opener, Kerr moved Al Horford into the starting slot. On this night, the coach moved Draymond Green to center.
“We’re going to get a look at our smaller lineup,” Kerr said. “A different combination and bring Al off the bench, which he’s most likely to do in the regular season.”
Horford, who projects as Porziis’ primary...