The Golden State Warriors are set to start their 2014 postseason journey. With a probable matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on the horizon, the Warriors need all their players at their best to pull a potential upset.
In that sense, the news they’ve received is not what they need as the 2013-14 regular season comes to a close.
Andrew Bogut – a player who has been hampered by injuries throughout his career – has been sidelined due to a fractured rib and he’s likely to miss the start of the playoffs – if not more.
According to Bogut, the injury was sustained on Thursday in a loss against the Denver Nuggets. He decided to continue playing with it but after feeling pain against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, he has decided to stop playing before being fully recovered.
"I've got to be careful, because if it cracks I'm looking at a punctured lung. You'll see me in the hospital with a tube coming out of me," Bogut said. "It's one of those things people have played through, but this is too close to comfort for me."
"It certainly does not make us a better basketball team," Jackson said of Bogut's absence.
Bogut’s impact goes beyond the numbers for the Warriors. His numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping – 7.3 pts, 10 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 67 games this season – but he’s among the leaders in several defensive ratings while being a lockdown defender and a strong presence inside the paint on both ends of the court.