The Golden State Warriors suffered another devastating setback on Wednesday night when a foot injury forced superstar point guard Stephen Curry to exit the game and not return. The two-time MVP winner was tripped up by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who dove on the floor for a loose ball and took out Curry in the process. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was noticeably irate over the play, which contributed to an ugly loss.
Thursday brought news that Curry is out indefinitely with a sprained ligament in his left foot. While he avoided a major injury, the star point guard is going to miss some time, though there is hope he will be back in time of the playoffs.
Still, losing your best player is never a good thing, and there is plenty of reason for the Warriors to be concerned. Here are a couple of them.
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Why Warriors should be concerned about Stephen Curry
Who are the Warriors?
The Warriors have held one of the best records in the NBA all season, and they currently sit at 47-23. That's an amazing accomplishment when you factor in they haven't played a single contest at full strength. Klay Thompson didn't play his first game until Jan. 9, and that's the same day Draymond Green officially went down with a back injury.
Green returned to action on Monday. Then in his second appearance back, Curry suffered this injury. Golden State's superstar trio spent one full game on the floor together before the sensational feeling vanished.
The stars not being available for large chunks of the season isn't the Dubs' only problem. They've also been without Andre Iguodala and Gary Payton II, who both are recovering from injuries.
All-Star Andrew Wiggins and Nemanja Bjelica are both sidelined with a sickness the team is calling a general illness. The same illness kept Thompson out recently. Then, last but not least, there's the team's biggest player, James Wiseman, who hasn't played a game yet as he recovers from a torn meniscus suffered last season.
If the Warriors can't consistently keep a group of guys on the floor to end the season, it could turn into a tragic ending in the postseason.
Time is ticking
The postseason is right around the corner. Teams like the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies are running like a well-oiled machine, and the Suns are doing it without Chris Paul, who should be back for the playoffs. The Warriors are limping to the season’s finish line, literally and figuratively. If the playoffs started today, the Warriors would be the only team with a losing record in their last 10 games.
Everyone who's going to be in the postseason is preparing to cut down rotations and play their best lineups more minutes. The Warriors are one of the deepest teams in the league, but they haven't been able to explore those options thoroughly. It will be a challenge to work key players back into the lineup before the playoffs.
Plus, what kind of shape will these players be in when they return? Curry may be back for the playoffs, but will he be at 100%? The Warriors will face a tough first-round challenge, and it will only be more difficult if their top star is gimpy.
Of course, you can never count the Warriors out if they do have their top guys available. Curry, Thompson, and Green are game-changers who can push the Dubs through adversity and to the promised land.
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