Programming note: Watch tonight's Warriors-Pistons game streaming live at 4 p.m. PT on the MyTeams app.
Draymond Green has missed the Warriors' last seven games because of a sprained right big toe. He last played Nov. 15 in Houston.
A couple of days ago, it sounded like the plan was for Draymond to return at some point on the current road trip -- most likely at Cleveland or Milwaukee. But prior to Saturday night’s game in Detroit, the 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year made it sound like he might not return until the Warriors come back home.
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SIGN UP HERE "They kept pushing me back. So, I don't know. We'll see," Draymond told reporters in the locker room. "I hope to be back during this road trip. But the date I had set, it ain't really going according to my plan. That's what I've realized in this process -- it's a little different.
"I had planned for possibly being back by Detroit, and it ain't really go as planned for me (laughing) ... it's physically gotten better. Over the course of the last week, I took some huge strides. So that's been good."
Of course Draymond hoped to play against the Pistons because he grew up in Saginaw, Mich. -- about 90 minutes from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
In 13 games this season, the three-time All-Star is averaging 6.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals. He missed a good chunk of time during the preseason because of tendinitis in his knee, and he already returned once from the toe injury and then had to go back on the shelf.
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"Now I'm gonna have to get back in game shape, and that ain't the most simple thing to do," Draymond added. "I just really need to get back going, going. Like, I don't really just want to get thrown back into a game -- that's a little different pressure on the toe.
"Just really ramping up now as opposed to trying to hop right back into it. So try to stick with the process and not jump some steps and then be back out. ... It’s been very difficult and frustrating. I want to play and compete with my teammates.
"Not being able to help sucks. It's been pretty frustrating for sure."
Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller