Warriors not concerned with Curry’s injury being long term
OAKLAND – The Warriors seemed at ease, even if they suddenly have two injured All-stars and lost by 23 points to the Bucks. The reason? The Warriors keep things in perspective.
The Warriors (10-2) ruled out star Stephen Curry for Saturday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets (5-6) at Oracle Arena after an MRI on Friday revealed a mild to moderate left groin strain. Yet, Warriors coach Steve Kerr considered the results “basically good news.”
“This doesn’t look like it’s going to be a long-term injury,” Kerr said. “He’s disappointed. But it could’ve been a lot worse.”
The Warriors will also sit All-star forward Draymond Green for a second consecutive game because of a sprained right toe and foot. But he squeezed in a postpractice workout with trainer Travis Walton. Kerr added that Green could return for Monday’s game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
“He’s feeling better. He was trying to talk us into letting him play,” Kerr said. “But we’re so early in the season. The smart thing to do is shoot for Monday.”
Warriors veteran reserve Shaun Livingston will miss his seventh consecutive game because of a sore right foot, but he participated in a game of 3-on-3 on Friday that makes his return imminent. Kerr cautioned that both Curry and Livingston will need practice time before returning, making it possible both will remain out for Monday’s game against the Clippers.
Even if Kerr reported Curry feeling “bummed out” for the obvious news, the Warriors touted the benefits of not relying on a star who usually can make 30-foot jumpers almost anytime.
The Warriors plan to start Quinn Cook in Curry’s place after fielding either healthy scratches (two) or diminished playing time (12.2 minutes per game). Though Kerr left it open-ended on who will start in Green’s place, options include second-year forward Jordan Bell, fourthyear forward Kevon Looney, veteran forward Jonas Jerebko or emerging wing Alfonzo Mckinnie.
“Learning how to play without Steph and Draymond, it always puts more of a burden on everybody’s shoulders. That’s a good thing,” Kerr said. “You want everybody to have to understand over the course of 82 [games], there’s going to be weird stuff that happens. Players have to play different roles and step into a void here and there.”
The Warriors have become accustomed to doing that since last season.
With Curry nursing overlapping ankle and knee injuries, Cook averaging 14.6 points on 49.3 percent shooting and 3.9 assists in a combined 18 games as a starter. Cook noted that “did a lot for his confidence.” It also did a lot for his future. After splitting his time in Santa Cruz and the Warriors, they signed him to the team’s playoff roster and for this season.
“I’ll just play my game,” Cook said. “At first, I was trying to get guys the ball and I was so adamant on not messing up and getting guys the ball. When I’m out there being aggressive and playing my game, it takes a lot of of pressure off of those guys.”
Still there’s a difference between Curry and Cook playing their respective games. Cook often asks Kerr during a free-throw or dead-ball situation what play he should run. Curry usually just improvises.
“He’s a guy who understands that without Steph on the floor, we’re not going to be in nearly as many random offensive possessions. We have to have more play guys,” Kerr said. “That is much more important when Steph is not on the floor. With Steph, we sort of like to create the chaos and just go. But we need more organization when Steph is out. Quinn provides it.”
The Warriors are not as sure as what they can provide in Green’s position. When Bell started against the Bucks, posted as many points as fouls (four) and collected two fouls in the first quarter. Although Kerr conceded he feels more comfortable playing the 6-foot-9, 224-pound Bell at the center spot than at power forward, he did not rule granting him another chance.
“Jordan is the obvious [fall] guy since he’s starting for Draymond,” Kerr said. “It’s easy to look at Jordan and say he didn’t do well. But when we don’t do well, individual players suffer. For Jordan to play the 4, everybody else has to be executing. It can still work. It’s easier for him to play the 5 because there’s more spacing.”