FlipBoard
USA TODAY Sports
When Steph Curry slipped on a wet spot in Game 4 of the Warriors’ first round series against the Houston Rockets, everyone had a feeling it would be more serious than the ankle injury that had kept him out of Game 3. Now, the word has officially come down, and it’s not the end of the world, but it isn’t good either.
Stephen Curry update: https://t.co/lJRK6XOfpq—
(@WarriorsPR) April 25, 2016
So the headlines will have to read “at least two weeks,” but the Warriors always take the long view when it comes to the MVP’s health, and it’s uncertain if they’ll clear him straight away after that period. He’ll likely miss a few more days to rehab at least.
There’s still little doubt that the Warriors will advance past the Rockets, considering the whupping they laid down in Steph’s absence in the second half of Game 4. The question becomes this: Would it be preferable for the series to go longer, so that when the opponents get tougher, Curry’s closer to a return? Their likely opponent in round two is the Clippers, who are positively desperate to make it to the Conference Finals. They’re a virtual lock to play a Steph-less Dubs squad for at least a couple of games, and you better believe Chris Paul will do everything in his power to take advantage.
The Warriors have had injuries this season to major contributors, but nothing was enough to slow them down, and they made it through last year’s postseason remarkably healthy. ESPN’s Zach Lowe has pounded the drum that the Warriors are a losing team when Curry is off the court, and the Clippers can beat losing teams. It’s too early to shovel dirt on these Warriors, but the crack that every other team in the NBA was waiting for might have finally happened.
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There’s still little doubt the Warriors will advance past the Rockets? lmao, the Rockets aren’t beating GS 3 straight times including twice on their home court..I’m sure GS is already looking ahead to the LA Clippers and wondering how long Curry will be out for that series.
Sucks to see him go down for a little bit. They’ll coast by Houston at home, but their presumptive opponents in the next round, LAC, won’t be so easy. I’d favor the Clippers in that match-up if Curry misses a good chunk of that series. And there’s no way they beat OKC or the Spurs if they make it to the Western Conference Finals without Curry, and have to play extended time without him in that series.
This sort of reminds me of Cleveland’s problems last year with injury with Kyrie (and Love). Without Curry, even if they make it to the Finals and meet CLE, I don’t think they win the title.
In other news, teams have been seen practicing body-sliding across the floor in zones known to be Curry’s favorites
I think the smart strategy for GS here would be to bomb games 5 and 6, take Houston in game 7, then stretch the Clippers out to 7 games as well – anything to avoid playing the Spurs without Curry, because that’s a death sentence.
That’s called playing with fire, when you have a chance to end a series you do it..as pathetic as Houston have been, you give them a bit of confidence as we seen against the Clippers last season..and anything could happen, especially playing without your best player.
There’s just no way. It’s strategically dangerous, and these guys are competitors. They would never intentionally bomb a game.
@Hiphopfan For any other team, yes, it is absolutely playing with fire. But the Warriors aren’t any other team – the rest of the team could easily put Houston away at home, no question, and they have home court advantage. Same for Clippers – it wouldn’t be as easy, sure, but they could stretch it out a couple games and still be safe.
And even then, stretching the Clippers to 7 isn’t really necessary. They just need two weeks. If they stretch Houston to game 7, Curry could potentially be back by the middle of the conference semifinals – worst case scenario it’s 2-2, and Curry will come back so hard the Warriors will win 4-2 in 5 games.
@Holodigm, I’m having trouble seeing them beat the Clippers without Curry.
“It’s been a long time I shouldn’t have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time’s up I’m sorry I kept you….”
Read a 5-5 on ESPN that worked as good summation for the feelings among players and around the league about this situation. The Warriors should be fine in taking care of a checked out Rockets team, but as everyone said, the focus is on the next round. Given that the Clippers are still heavily favored to win their series with Blazers, let’s focus on them. I think a healthy Clippers team (which has given GS trouble even with a healthy Steph) would be able to take advantage of this situation in at least one of the games at Oracle. I think how GS performs in those first two games will determine how soon the team looks to bring back Curry in the following scenario (if cleared in two weeks):
GS being 2-0: Takes all the time in the world bringing him back
GS being 1-1: Sees how Game 3 goes before giving him a go for game 4
GS being down 0-2: He probably is seeing the floor for Game 3…
I think Scenario 2 would be more likely (although this Clip team can be maddening inconsistency and be down 0-2 since Clips going Clip at times)….
You summed it up perfectly…even though I can’t see GS beating the Clippers without Curry, I also have to remember this is the same Clippers team that gave up a 3-1 lead to a Rockets team that was dead in the water after 3 quarters in game 5, so you never know with them.
wonder what lacob is thinking now