Kristaps Porzingis positive step on Lakers pregame injury report

SAN FRANCISCO– After missing the last three games due to illness, Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis the trend is in the right direction ahead of the Dubs’ matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the Warriors’ practice Friday afternoon, Steve Kerr gave a a positive update to the great man’s status.

“Kristaps felt better in training today. The first time he did much since he was sick,” Kerr said. “He’ll be asked (for the Lakers game)”

It’s been a rocky start to the Porzingis era in Golden State. After his mixed debut against the Boston Celtics, in which he collected 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes of action, health again proved to be an obstacle for the big man. Ahead of the Denver game, the first game Porzingis has missed in this stretch, Kerr said Porzingis’ illness was severe enough that he couldn’t leave his hotel room. And over the past week, Porzingis has stayed in Bay to recover as the Dubs hit the road for a quick sweep.

With this illness rearing its head, Porzingis’ medical history with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) certainly comes to the forefront of speculation. In the past, Porzingis has struggled with chronic symptoms of POTS, mainly an increased heart rate that later causes dizziness and extreme exhaustion.

However, the Warriors have not officially linked this particular disease to that specific condition. Details about Porzingis’ symptoms and the specifics of his illness were scarce and unclear. Regardless, it’s an ailment Golden State was aware of when they traded for him and was confident they could deal with it.

Health has hindered Porzingis’ start in Golden State so far, but he hopes to get him back against the Lakers.

Draymond Green Injury Update

As for other injury information, Kerr said Draymond Green was able to participate in practice and they expect him to be available against Los Angeles after holding him out against the Memphis Grizzlies because of lower back pain.

But the problem with Green, lately, has been when he’s been available on the court. Green’s decline on offense has had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team whenever he sees the floor. In the last two games he missed, the Warriors scored more than 120 points. And in the last two games, they decided not to close with him; they managed to pull out some close wins over the Phoenix Suns and Grizzlies.

On the season, the Warriors are outscored by 4.3 points per 100 possessions when Green is on the floor, which ranks in the bottom 22nd percent among players at his position. For a player who was historically on-off, plus/minus positive in his prime, where he is now is a far cry from where he was in his prime.

It’s a problem Kerr is well aware of. Last week, he said it was up to him and the coaching staff to put him in better positions to succeed. After practice, Kerr talked about how they can find a rhythm with him out there.

“We have to read the situation. New Orleans, we found more of a rhythm in the second half with Dray than we did in the first, so that’s kind of a set we can call,” Kerr said. “He’s doing some of our things off the ball. And then some of the adjustments he has to make without Steph, and those are all things we’ve talked about internally and with the whole group.”