Draymond Green Ruled Out Against Suns as Warriors' Season Starts to Spiral

Draymond Green is officially out for Saturday's game against the Phoenix Suns with a back injury, which means the Golden State Warriors are about to look like a pickup team that just lost the only guy willing to play defense.

Underdog NBA reported the final downgrade on Saturday, confirming the Warriors will be without their defensive anchor and primary instigator. When Draymond sits, the entire Golden State ecosystem shifts from a structured dynasty into a chaotic scramble.

"Underdog NBA reported: 'Draymond Green (back) listed out Saturday.'"

The timing could not be worse for a team already sitting at an ugly 0-2. Golden State dropped their first two games to the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, giving up 127 points to Los Angeles in the opener. Now they have to figure out how to get stops in Phoenix without the loudest guy in the gym.

Green has been battling these lingering back issues for a while. He managed to suit up for 66 games last season while his usage rate plummeted to a career-low 13.1 percent, proving the physical wear and tear is catching up to him. Even with the low usage, he still hands out 7.0 assists per game, operating as the central nervous system of the offense.

With Steph Curry also reportedly sitting out for injury management, the Warriors are basically rolling out a tribute band. This is the kind of roster news that completely flips the betting board.

Opposing big men usually have a much easier time getting to the rim when they do not have to worry about Draymond turning a standard box-out into a mixed martial arts exhibition. Without him on the floor, the Golden State defensive rating traditionally falls off a cliff.

If you are holding Warriors tickets or setting a daily fantasy lineup, adjust your expectations immediately. Golden State will have to find someone else to set the tone on Saturday, and they desperately need to find a rhythm before heading to Denver to face the Nuggets on Tuesday.