Curry is poised to be re-evaluated in a week
OAKLAND >> The Warriors got a bit of good news before Saturday’s 113-92 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Hours before tipoff, the team announced that Stephen Curry, who sprained his left medial collateral ligament last month, will be reevaluated in a week.
Over the past few days, Curry has ramped up the intensity of his workouts. On Friday, he was seen working out with resistance bands alongside trainer Chelsea Lane during media availability.
When the press left, Curry was seen shooting during a television appearance of Steve Kerr during a taping of ESPN’s “The Jump.” When asked about Curry’s status, Kerr repeated: “I have no idea. He’s on the court doing some stuff and he works with Chelsea (Lane) every day, and I get an update from her. Basically, she says ‘he’s doing pretty well’ and I say ‘great’. Then he goes to do his stuff, and we prepare. When he’s ready, he’s ready, but he’s making progress which is a good sign.”
Curry’s absence has coincided with the worst stretch of the Warriors season. The Warriors entered the playoffs having lost six of their previous 10 games. However, they found a potential backup point guard in Quinn Cook.
Over the past month, Cook has established himself as a capable scoring threat, averaging 17.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists starting in place of Curry. Cook’s ability to score efficiently, combined with the team’s need for point guard depth forced the Warriors to sign him for the remainder of the season.
• Andre Iguodala learned he’d be starting at point guard about 30 minutes before tipoff. The veteran responded with a well-rounded game, with three points, seven rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes. However, it was his defense that helped turn the tide for a unit that has struggled over the last month, posting a 106.8 defensive rating over the span.
“Just wanted to put our best defensive lineup on the floor from the beginning,” Kerr said. “I think the whole point of these games here early in this series is to reestablish our defense.”
Still, Cook, who scored five points, took the demotion in stride.
“I’m all about the team,” Cook said. “Everybody here is all about the team and wants to win. I think that’s what makes this team so special. Guys aren’t worried about minutes, guys aren’t worried about starting, none of that.”
“I think Andre got a knee in the quad, which is very painful, and it was good that we didn’t have to put him back in the game down the stretch,” Kerr said. “He’ll get treatment and try to get better.
• Even after three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson was restless on the eve of the Warriors’ first-round opener.
“I had the jitters last night,” he said. “I was so excited to be here.”
Thompson put those jitters aside, scoring a gamehigh 27 points, on 11-of-13 shooting, to help the Warriors set the tone in Game
1.
Thompson, who led the NBA in catch-and-shoot production (11.0 points per game) this season, marking the third time in four years he’s topped the league in that category.
“Not caring about your stats,” he explained. “It’s that simple, and if you just focus and play freeminded, you’re going to knock down shots, just because you don’t overthink it. You don’t second-guess yourself. That’s what I’ve come to at this point in my career.”