The Golden State Warriors have gotten off to a blazing hot start. After going 5-2 to start the season, the Warriors rattled off 16 straight wins, setting a new franchise record. They currently hold the NBA’s best record, and have for quite some time. It’s seeming as if the Warriors are firing on all cylinders, and that things could not possibly be better.
There is one Warriors player, however, that has not had an easy start to the year.
In the final preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, David Lee injured his left hamstring near the end of the game trying to get in a little more playing time before the season tipped off. Seeming like a fairly minor injury, Lee only missed the first three games of the regular season before suiting up again against the Los Angeles Clippers. His season lasted all but 7 minutes up to that point before he aggravated the same injury, sidelining him indefinitely.
Now, over a month later, Lee is set to make his return, and everyone is hoping for a different result from his last outing.
“I feel really good. Assuming I wake up tomorrow feeling this way, I’m going to definitely go [Monday],” Lee said. “I’m real excited about that, just excited to get back on the court. It’s been way too long and it’s getting boring just watching.”
With Lee being out for an extended time, he has gotten a chance to evaluate this team from a different perspective. At Sunday’s practice, Lee spoke about how he could use that new perspective to help the team succeed even more.
“I’ve gotten a chance to watch our team from afar and I see when we’re being successful, what we’re doing. And when we have a little bit of a lull occasionally, what’s not getting done,” Lee said on Sunday, “So I think I’m going to be able to step right in and help us, and that’s the biggest thing. I know I’m going to do nothing but help us.”
Lee, who has missed 24 games this season, will likely come off the bench and play about 12-15 minutes according to coach Steve Kerr.
“His hamstring didn’t bother him at all. He got up and down the floor,” Kerr said after practice on Sunday. “My guess is he will play in short bursts, and he’ll probably get tired because he hasn’t had any game action. But I’m planning on bringing him off the bench, and playing him with the second group.”
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