The Warriors truly feel the impact without you.

It’s surprising that the Warriors managed to beat the third-ranked Nuggets without Curry, and Jokic still recorded an incredible 35 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. However, those who watched the last quarter know just how poorly Jokic played then.

With 7 minutes and 25 seconds left, the Nuggets led the Warriors by 5. In the following 5 minutes, the Warriors suddenly unleashed a 20-2 run, overtaking the Nuggets by 13 points. At that time, Jokic made his first and only three-pointer of the fourth quarter, but during the Warriors’ offensive surge, he was virtually invisible on the court.

Statistics can be misleading; Jokic’s 35+20+12 stat line is phenomenal, with only six such performances combined by other players in the NBA’s last 50 years, while Jokic alone has nine. Yet today, his performance clearly didn’t match the numbers, and there’s no excuse for losing to a modest Warriors team.

Of course, most of the time, stats do reflect a player’s true level, like Draymond Green’s recent game against the Celtics. He played 18 minutes, going 0-for-7 from the field, 0-for-5 on threes, finishing with zero points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

In the fourth quarter, coach Kerr couldn’t tolerate Draymond anymore and benched him (DNP), after which the Warriors outscored the Celtics by 18. In a game they lost by 11, Draymond’s plus-minus was -28. This scenario has happened multiple times this season.

On February 10 against the Grizzlies, Draymond committed seven turnovers in the first three quarters, was benched in the fourth, and the Warriors staged a miraculous comeback. On February 6 against the Suns, he was benched in the final moments, and the Warriors went on a magical 10-0 run to complete the turnaround.

Going back further to December 23, Draymond had a serious argument with Kerr in the third quarter, with harsh words exchanged, and he angrily left the game. Yet the Warriors outscored the Magic 31-14 in the fourth quarter, winning by 23, while Draymond’s plus-minus before leaving was -5.

Today’s win over the Nuggets might be the most intense example. Draymond sat out due to a back injury, and the Warriors played like they were energized by adrenaline, shooting 15-for-28 from three in the first half, a 53.6% accuracy. Al Horford alone made five threes, showing how much a big man’s shooting can boost the team.

In the second half, the Warriors’ three-point accuracy and volume dropped, but their offense remained smooth. No one stalled at the top of the arc, and the team dished out an impressive 42 assists, shooting over 50% overall. See, even without playmaking, everyone can move without the ball effectively.

After the trade deadline, Draymond stayed on the team. The owner pretended that Draymond was never part of trade talks, but the real reason is no team wants to take on his $27 million contract next season. It’s now widely known that Draymond’s negative impact on the court outweighs his positive contributions.

This season, he averages 26.5 minutes, 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.7 turnovers per game. As an interior player, his shooting percentage barely passes 40%, the lowest since 2014, and his rebounding is also at a 14-season low.

His playing time has been reduced to the third-lowest of his career, but it still seems excessive. Although he maintains a 32% three-point shooting rate, his shots are uncontested. When he’s on the court, the Warriors essentially play four-on-five on offense.

When paired with Curry, his issues are much less noticeable, thanks to years of chemistry. But when Curry is absent and Draymond plays, the team’s performance becomes ugly. Last season, Draymond made the All-Defensive First Team, but this season his defense has declined sharply, with steals and blocks at career second lows, and too many poor defensive plays.

When he was younger, Draymond’s height allowed him to match up against bigger centers, but as he ages and his physical abilities decline, he struggles more and more against taller, stronger big men. This is also the root cause of his conflicts with coach Kerr.

In the past, Draymond’s defense and playmaking could complement Curry, but when he can no longer deliver these strengths, his status and influence in the team naturally diminish. The only reason he remains on the roster is because his contract is a heavy burden for any team to take on.

Unlike Al Horford, who seems to improve with age, Draymond hasn’t shown that trend, partly because his podcast commitments take up much of his off-court time. He’s smart and has already prepared for life after retirement, working as a commentator during the offseasons, ensuring a smooth transition.

Perhaps Draymond’s days with the Warriors are numbered, and the arrival of Poole in a trade is a sign of that. Regardless of Draymond’s past contributions, this team has always had only one untouchable player: Curry.