WARRIORS PRACTICE FACILITY AND ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — The Golden State Warriors got back from Memphis yesterday after a short road trip that ended with their sixteen-game winning streak snapped, and the first bit of news came that night as David Aldridge of TNT tweeted that Andrew Bogut had gotten a platelet-rich plasma (“PRP”) injection for his right knee, the same type of treatment Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard have undergone. Bogut’s knee was diagnosed as chondromalacia and bone edema.
Bay Area News Group writer Diamond Leung reported that Bogut’s agent thought it would be a “temporary setback”.
“Thank God it’s nothing major,” David Bauman said, adding that he expected Bogut to return sometime in January.
Morning Shootaround
Warriors PR confirmed the report this morning as soon as the practice facility doors opened to let reporters in for morning shootaround media session:
Festus Ezeli, who replaced Bogut as the starter, said that he was looking forward to the matchup against the physical Oklahoma City Thunder frontline of Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins.
“That’s my game,” Ezeli said, adding that he is still going through the process of coming back, “The more games I got under my belt is going to be better for the team in the long run, post-season, whatever down the road.”
Stephen Curry addressed the Bogut injury issue much like his old coach Mark Jackson used to say.
“(It’s a) big-time opportunity for Festus and Mo (Marreese Speights)”, Curry said. “Guys gotta step up.”
Curry also mentioned the process: “We haven’t been full strength yet but for seven minutes of the season. We just want to keep winning games in the process till we get everybody back.”
Pre-Game Press Conference
At the pre-game coach’s press conference, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that the team has not yet discussed the potential of signing Jermaine O’Neal to backup Golden State’s frontline with Bogut’s injury looming, but Kerr also added that he was glad to have David Lee coming back next week.
As far as whether or not Lee would start upon his return, due to Bogut’s absence, Kerr said, “You’re not gonna believe me, but I haven’t given it that much thought.”
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