Curry improves but will still sit out next three games.
But Kerr will keep him out today and over weekend to rest his injured groin
OAKLAND >> The joy spread across Stephen Curry’s face as he hoisted shots into the basket.
During a post-practice shooting workout, Curry swished countless 3-pointers around the perimeter. He then played hacky-sack with Hall of Famer and Warriors consultant Steve Nash before making more shots.
Those signs made the Warriors feel encouraged about Curry’s progress since missing the past six games with a strained left groin. But it must have frustrated the Warriors, too. Curry will sit out when the Warriors (12-5) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (10-6) today at Oracle Arena. And Warriors coach Steve Kerr already ruled out Curry for the team’s home back-toback slate against Portland (Friday) and Sacramento (Saturday) since Kerr wants Curry to practice first.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are also without All-Star forward Draymond Green (sprained right toe) and reserve wing Alfonzo McKinnie (sore left foot). In related news, the Warriors have lost three consecutive games and five of their past seven.
“You don’t make excuses because it doesn’t matter and nobody cares,” Kerr said. “But you take Steph Curry and Draymond out of the offense, you’re not as potent. It’s just a fact.”
It’s a fact, though, that the Warriors hope will stop disrupting their bottom line results anymore. After all, the Warriors went 9-2 during an 11-game stretch last season without Curry when he first injured his left ankle. Even when accounting for Green’s obvious value, the Warriors argue they should be able to manage the same way as they did during Curry’s initial injury last season.
But how?
“Get back to the basics. Take care of the ball, defend at a high level and box out,” Kerr said. “You don’t give your opponent extra possessions. All the little details maybe you can get away with when you’re at full strength, you can’t get away with it now.”
Especially when the Warriors are plagued with other circumstances.
Warriors forward Kevin Durant and Green are a week removed from a public spat that resulted in Green serving a one-game suspension. The Warriors have fielded seven different lineups in the past seven games because of their injuries.
And even if the Warriors enjoy having more youth on their roster, they benefitted from last season having Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee and David West making fewer mistakes.
The Warriors’ two other All-Stars have also struggled.
Durant has averaged 28 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting in the past five games. During that same stretch, Warriors guard Klay Thompson has averaged 22.4 points, but
on a 39.7 percent clip. Kerr has argued about the need to ensure better ball movement instead of relying on their two healthy All-Stars.
“We have to find a good balance to that,” Warriors forward Andre Iguodala said. “It’s like a scale. You don’t want to tip too much to one side. But you don’t want to forget about them as well.”
After all, Durant averaged 28.8 points on 46.5 percent shooting and Thompson averaged 21 points on a 44 percent mark during Curry’s initial 11-game absence last season. When Durant returned for the final eight games that overlapped with Curry’s left knee injury, Durant averaged 24.75 points while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. After missing eight games with a right thumb injury, Thompson closed out the last seven regular-season games averaging 22.7 points on a 47.4 percent clip.
“When you have that right intent in making basketball plays, it’ll do what you’re supposed to do,” Iguodala said. “That’ll make yourself a good rhythm and get you a good couple possessions, good quarter, good half and then a good game.”
With reduced floor spacing and less All-Star talent around them, the Warriors insist they will not just dump the ball to Durant and Thompson. Their recent shooting struggles validated Kerr’s concern about relying on their healthy AllStars.
So where the Warriors turn? During Curry’s overlapping injuries last season, Warriors guard Quinn Cook averaged 14.6 points on 49.3 percent shooting in 18 games as a starter. During Curry’s latest absence, Cook has posted similar numbers in points (15.6) and shooting percentage (57.7) as both a starter (three games) and reserve (three).
They have not excelled in other areas, though. During Curry’s initial absence last season, the Warriors led the NBA in several defensive categories per game, including blocks (8.4), defensive rebounds (36.4) and opponent field-goal percentage (41.7). In the last six games Curry has missed, the Warriors have allowed opponents to shoot 45.4 percent from the field, 34.3 defensive rebounds and 3.83 blocks per game
No wonder Kerr has told his players that “we have to fight” and to “do your homework” until they have their healthy All-Stars back.
“Our guys understand when they have to buckle down. They understand what’s necessary,” Kerr said. “When you do that, you build the momentum. Even if you lose some games, you’re building and you’re growing.”
• The NBA fined Durant $25,000 on Tuesday for “directing inappropriate language towards a fan” during Saturday’s 112-109 loss to the Mavericks. During the loss, Durant walked over to a fan sitting courtside and yelled obscenities during a ball-stoppage. The exchange, caught on camera by another fan sitting courtside, found its way onto the internet.
This season, Durant has accumulated $33,000 in fines — which includes four technical fouls that carry an automatic fine of $2,000.