While the Golden State Warriors grabbed a solid victory against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder, there is one minor blemish. Warriors forward David West has suffered a non-displaced fracture in his thumb according to CBS Sports. West will be reevaluated in 2 weeks, so it is possible the injury could sideline him longer if the healing process does not go as planned.
West is averaging the fewest minutes per game of his career, but has offered consistent production nonetheless. The 36-year old is shooting 53% from the floor and has seen more open takes in the high-powered Warriors offense due to his teammates demanding more attention. West’s loss opens the door for young big-man Kevon Looney to grab more minutes off the bench. Looney, 20, has been in and out of the rotation all season but should be in a place now to get more minutes.
Losing David West is tough in the short-term, but allowing Looney to have more playing time could be a blessing in disguise. We know he is talented from his UCLA days and he could factor in the rotation more in the latter parts of the season, depending on how this upcoming stint goes. The Warriors will continue to tinker with lineups to find the best match for the inevitable playoffs. The David West injury may merely put that on hold for now.
