Andrew Bogut will return to starting lineup for Warriors 'soon'

Any thought that Andrew Bogut would follow in the footsteps of frontcourt mate David Lee and remain a reserve after returning from injury can be put to rest.

Bogut has come off the bench in each of his first two games since returning from a 12-game absence due to issues with his right knee. He played 14 minutes in his first outing and 20 on Friday, and head coach Steve Kerr made it sound as if Bogut is just working his way back into game shape off the bench, with a return to the starting lineup imminent.

"(Bogut) will start soon," Kerr said. "He's our starting center."

Lee coming off the bench has been a success, with Draymond Green usurping him and proving a two-way stud. The Golden State Warriors' second unit boasts Lee, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, making it one of the most talented reserve squads in basketball. 

Bringing Bogut off the bench may move too far in balancing the two units, even if Mo Speights has played well in his stead. Bogut is the team's defensive anchor, their best rim-protector and, as Kerr said, the team's unquestioned starting pivot when healthy. The starting five, when in tact, has outscored opponents by an unfathomable 29 points per 100 possessions, something no coach is going to toy with for long.

At 29-5, the Warriors can afford to bring Bogut back to a full workload slowly, and that's all that's at play with the center coming off the bench for the time being.