SAN FRANCISCO – Gary Peyton II (elbow), Andre Iguodala (neck) and Otto Porter Jr. (leg) are suspects for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, coach Steve Kerr said.
The trio took part in a full contact exercise at the Chess Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Porter and Iguodala were seen working on the court during the final 30 minutes of Warriors practice as Peyton Kerr spoke with General Manager Bob Myers and the team’s director of sports medicine and performance, Dr Rick Celebrini.
“We’ll see how they turn out tomorrow, but it’s a good sign that the three had contact today,” Kerr said.
Porter missed the last two games of the Western Conference Finals series against the Mavericks and injured his leg in the first half of Game 3. He was seen after some extra shoots after practice on Tuesday.
And Iguodala hasn’t played since the first-round series against the Nuggets because of a disc injury to his neck, although he has been praised throughout the post-season for his advice.
Peyton has increased his range of motion in his left (shooting) elbow, which he broke after a horrific incident in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 3, when Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks attacked him all-out. did because he was soaring through the air. A layoff attempt, sending the 28-year-old to the ground.
Peyton said Tuesday that he is “starting to feel normal but still not me.” He’s taking it day in and day out to “see what happens” and hoping for the best.
“There’s still a few boxes to check,” Peyton said Wednesday, though he declined to provide any further details. He said he’s waiting on “some green light from some people.” Also, I’m ready to go.”
The Underground Warriors could benefit from the NBA Finals’ schedule, which includes two days off between games, except for Games 3 and 4, when there is only a one-day break.
Peyton, with his defensive prowess, length, and athleticism, would provide a mega boost for the Warriors in their NBA Finals matchup against the gritty Celtics. He could be another option for the Warriors to pin against Jason Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
“If he’s back, I think it’s a huge bonus for us,” Drummond Green said.
Likewise, Porter has played well as one of the first players off the bench during the playoffs, while in good health. That adds an extra layer of rebounding and timely shooting for the second unit. In 13 playoff games, he has averaged 5.5 points on 46.7% shooting and 4.1 rebounds.
Iguodala hasn’t made much impact on the court due to his injury, and when asked about his position for the series, Iguodala quipped, “Just trying to finish the season on two legs. If I If I do that, it’s a successful season.”
Even in what he called “an interesting year with my body,” the Warriors liked him influencing the game during the playoffs in the role of player-coach. But they will undoubtedly welcome his backup playmaking abilities and on-court leadership – and receive any contribution from him.
,[I’ve] Using my brain a lot and understanding that fabric is a big part of what we knit – cloth is who we are and what we put on the floor. I know I play a big part in that,” Iguodala said. “Just understanding that you can make an impact in a myriad of different ways, just being prepared in any way that’s asked of me.
“If it’s in court, and hopefully it is, I just have to be prepared for it and be optimistic about everything that happens to the body.”
