NEW YORK >> Kevin Durant's absence has put more scoring load on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, more playmaking and defensive responsibility on Draymond Green, and more rebounding duties on the center position.
Everyone must fill in small gaps to help patch the massive void left by Durant. For most of the roster, it's a minor change. But for the Warrior wings, it's a brand new basketball world.
Patrick McCaw has gone from a rookie on the fringe of the rotation to a starter guarding some of the league's best perimeter talent. Matt Barnes went from unemployed to very much needed in an NBA title push. Andre Iguodala went from a veteran in crank-down, leg-saving, pre-playoff mode to crank-up, turn-back-the-clock time.
McCaw is the most unknown commodity of the group. At 21, he appears to be a massive second-round steal, shown most in those meaningless pockets — summer league, preseason, mop-up duty — when he dominates other young, higher draft picks.
But in his time sharing the court with the NBA's big guns this season, he has been a bit hesitant. Earlier in the season, after McCaw passively floated through a spot start for the resting Klay Thompson, coach Steve Kerr had to pull him aside and tell him to attack more, shoot when you're open, trust your talent. The Warriors can't afford to play 4-on-5.
In his first start following Durant's knee injury, Thursday night in Chicago, McCaw was silent for the first nine minutes, taking zero shots and barely touching the ball. But out of a late first quarter timeout, he lined up and hit a wing 3. It seemed to spike his confidence.
McCaw began making a bigger impact against the Bulls — aggressively attacking the basket and leaking out in transition for a pair of cutting layups. McCaw finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 29 minutes.
But McCaw's size is a concern. At a razor-thin 185 pounds, he's an undersized shooting guard, making him a featherweight among small forwards, where he's currently starting. The Bulls continually tried to post him up with Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler on Thursday, with varying success.
The Warriors face 236-pound Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks on Sunday, while two March matchups loom with the San Antonio Spurs and their 229-pound small forward Kawhi Leonard.
McCaw is a smart, active defender, but he's not physically ready to deal with two of the league's most powerful wing scorers. So it's likely, to start the game, the Warriors will slide Thompson, stronger at 215 pounds, down to defend the Anthony and Leonard.
That's also how Barnes might figure in. He's a bigger, more traditional wing who could slide into that starting role, depending on how McCaw plays.
This eight-game, 13-day excursion will allow time for only one practice, and that came Saturday in Manhattan. Afterward, Barnes was spotted with various Warrior players and coaches, going through offensive concepts and inbounds plays. He must be assimilated into this team on the move, but Kerr and Green say his style of play already meshes well.
That versatility means Barnes can play some small-ball power forward, allowing Green to slide to center and unlocking what has traditionally been the Warriors' most potent lineup.
But in Durant's absence, Iguodala is the team's unquestioned best replacement.
He'll remain in his traditional bench role but, in times of need, he will be on the court. Against Chicago, he was notably aggressive, attacking the rim with vigor in transition a couple times and scoring in double-digits for the first time in seven games.
Ideally, this would be a time for Iguodala to rest his legs for the playoffs. But instead, in his 13th year and at age 33, he needs to ramp it up.
The Warriors' lead in the race for the No. 1 seed is down to 21"2 games with 20 to play.
"I've had to take my game back throughout the last year or two or three," Iguodala said.