SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 Al Horford made an undeniable impact the first time he took the floor in front of the Warriors\u2019 home fans at Chase Center, but when the team returned home Monday to face the Memphis Grizzlies, he was ruled out.<\/p>\n
Thus is the touch-and-go situation Golden State will navigate all season with the 39-year-old big man. The same as he did last season with the Boston Celtics, Horford will not play on consecutive days, giving coach Steve Kerr a decision to make before each\u00a0 set of back-to-backs.<\/p>\n
This time around, Kerr opted to have Horford play Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, who have historically presented a handful with 7-footer Ivica Zubac down low. That meant the Warriors had to find a way to handle Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies without him.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor tonight and tomorrow, it was the emphasis on the Clippers\u2019 size and Zubac,\u201d Kerr said Monday before tipoff of the determining factor. \u201cWe could have used him tonight against J.J., too. But we can only have him for one game, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a decision Kerr will have to make 14 times this season \u2014 the number of back-to-backs on the Warriors\u2019 schedule. Golden State was also without Horford for its 139-119 loss in Portland on Friday night<\/a> after playing him 28 minutes in their overtime win against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets<\/a> last Thursday.<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a plan mapped out in advance; Kerr said he is evaluating the situation on a \u201cweek to week, even day-to-day\u201d basis. For now, the determination mostly comes down to matchups \u2014 the size of the Clippers and Nuggets making the first two relatively routine decisions \u2014 \u201cbut later on, it may be health,\u201d Kerr said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might have been different tonight if, say, Draymond (Green) had been injured,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just have to take everything into account each week when we make these decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Defense takes heat<\/p>\n