Warriors' Speights set to return from calf injury in Game 1 vs. Cavaliers
The Golden State Warriors aren't exactly hurting for depth, but they'll get more of it when the NBA Finals start this Thursday.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr says forward Marreese Speights (calf) will be available for Game 1 and is expected to play.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) June 2, 2015
Speights has been sidelined since suffering a strained right calf in Game 3 of the team's second-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies more than three weeks ago.
The reserve big man was somewhat of a revelation in nearly 16 minutes per game during the regular season, averaging 10.4 points on 49 percent shooting to go with a Player Efficiency Rating of 19.58. Speights's play in the postseason regressed, however, as he averaged four points and two rebounds in only seven minutes per game off the bench through the Warriors' first seven playoff contests.
Festus Ezeli took the bulk of Speights's minutes during the Western Conference Finals - and thrived in the role as a third big man - after former All-Star David Lee got the first crack at replacing Speights's minutes in the second round.
With Speights ready to return to the lineup, it will be interesting to monitor how coach Steve Kerr manages the minutes of his reserve bigs.