Injured Warriors stars getting healthy fast
Curry, Durant at workouts; Thompson practices with bandage on thumb.
OAKLAND » The moment brought a visible reminder of the Warriors’ star power as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant resumed their shooting workouts during the end of Thursday’s practice.
Another moment brought a visible reminder of the Warriors’ tenuous health as Klay Thompson practiced with a bandage on his fractured right thumb, while shooting left handed.
The Warriors are becoming healthier, but they are not fully healthy. Curry plans to return when the Warriors (53-18) host the Atlanta Hawks (21- 50) on Friday at Oracle Arena after missing the past six games with a right ankle injury. Durant (sore ribs), Thompson (right thumb) and Draymond Green
( pelvic contusion) still remain sidelined, though. While Curry, Durant and Thompson participated in all of Thursday’s non- contact practice, Green sat out.
Afterwards, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry might not have a minutes restriction. Kerr added that Curry’s rehab has been “very productive.” Curry’s ankle has not fully healed, though.
“It’s as close to 100 percent healthy as can be. I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent,” Kerr said. “A summer will ultimately do him some good. There’s probably some things to be gained with a summer of some rest and specific rehab we won’t be able to address now. So everything we’ve been able to address, we’ve addressed. I think we should be good. But I wouldn’t tell you he’s 100 percent. Not many people are at this stage.”
That includes Thompson, Durant and Green.
Durant is out for at least another week after missing the past three games because of an incomplete rib cartilage fracture. Thompson is expected to stay out for another week. Green has not practiced in the past two days after Spurs forward Danny Green inadver tently kicked him near his groin during Monday’s game in San Antonio. Warriors reserve Omri Casspi is also listed as questionable (right ankle) after missing the past two games.
At least Curry will return after having what he called “two good weeks of rehab.”
“I’m feeling good,” Curry said. “I’ve taken a patient approach toward trying to get as close to 100 percent as possible. When I wake up in the morning, I know the difference between my right and my left [ankle], but that won’t stop me from being who I am on the court and having confidence.”
Though Curry said there are untreated “bone bruises and ligaments” in his right ankle, he said further rehab will not heal it. Curry said he will have to wait until this summer to do that, though he said he does not think he needs surgery.
Therefore, Warriors trainer Chelsea Lane told Kerr “there’s nothing more to be gained from keeping” Curry out. After all, Kerr called Curry’s twoweek rehab process “very productive.”
“That’s all I need to hear. If it made sense to give him another week, we’d do that, but it doesn’t, given the nature of his ankle,” Kerr said. “They’ve made great strides in the rehab the last couple of weeks. He’s doing well and feels good. He’s going to play.”
But after having four ankle injuries this season, how does Curry ensure this does not happen again?
“The only thing I can do is strengthen everything around my ankle to try to protect me the best that I can, if that were to happen,” Curry said. “As long as I’m not putting myself in jeopardy of being stable and strong and able to support me with all the moves I try on the floor, I’ll be good to go.”
Curry first sprained his ankle on Dec. 4 in New Orleans after stepping on the foot of Pelicans forward E’Twaun Moore. After sitting out 11 games, Curry then aggravated the sprain in his right ankle when he slipped during a post-shootaround workout on Jan. 10. He then missed two more games.
Almost two months later, Curry stepped on the foot of Warriors center Zaza Pachulia on March 2 in Atlanta. Though Curry still had 28 points in 24 minutes, he eventually sat midway through the third quarter after his ankle tightened up at halftime. Curry came nowhere close toward lasting that long when he stepped on the foot of Spurs guard Dejounte Murray on March 8. Curry made a pair of foul shots before leaving the game after playing only two minutes. He stayed sidelined ever since.
“It doesn’t really matter what you do in that situation. The only thing I can do is strengthen everything around my ankle and try to protect it the best I can, if that were to happen,” Curry said. “When it comes to me just being the player I want to be, doing the moves I want to do, making the cuts that I want to make and stuff like that — I can do all of that stuff right now. In regards to that, I’m not really worried about it.”