OAKLAND – Andrew Bogut’s career existence changed Monday morning, as did that of Marreese Speights and Jason Thompson and, quite likely, James Michael McAdoo and Kevon Looney.
One teammate’s knee surgery can have that effect, and it’s safe to assume Festus Ezeli’s absence will alter the way the Warriors play and the way coach Steve Kerr utilizes his big men.
The Next-Man-Up attitude of sports teams is a required survival mechanism, a way to cope with injuries that inevitably occur. Coaches don’t have a choice, and neither do the fallen player’s teammates. But even the temporary loss of a reserve can change things, sometimes significantly.