The Golden State Warriors suffered a significant blow after star point guard Stephen Curry‘s foot injury against the Boston Celtics. Curry will miss the rest of the regular season, eyeing a return for the first round of the playoffs.
The two-time league MVP’s absence creates a significant offensive void that the Warriors will have to fill. However, head coach Steve Kerr believes Curry’s injury provides his team with a promising scenario.
Stephen Curry suffers foot injury
The Warriors’ surge to one of the league’s best records has come behind Curry’s strong play.
However, Golden State was dealt a gutshot last Wednesday after the star guard suffered a left foot ligament strain against the Celtics. The injury happened in the second quarter after Curry attempted to corral a loose ball but was met with Marcus Smart diving toward his knee to gain possession.
The ailment will force Curry to miss the rest of the regular season, lined up for a presumptive return for the start of the playoffs. As the six-time All-Star recovers, head coach Steve Kerr sees a silver lining ahead.
Steve Kerr believes Stephen Curry’s injury will be a blessing in disguise
The Warriors will move through the remainder of the regular season without Curry, putting the franchise in a tight bind.
Despite the discouraging situation, Golden State sits optimistically about the long-term picture once the two-time league MVP returns. Head coach Steve Kerr has embraced a positive mindset concerning the injury, recently voicing that he believes that Curry will return “rejuvenated” and “recharged” for the playoffs.
“He’s going to be rejuvenated, recharged after this time off,” Kerr said via Yardbarker. “So the silver lining is that Steph will get a break before the playoffs come. Assuming everything goes well, he’ll be ready to roll. As far as the team is concerned, it will give them an opportunity to learn how to execute without him, which will come in handy during those minutes in the playoffs when he is off the floor. If we can learn to execute better now, that will serve us well later.”
Although Curry will battle through rust, the star point guard will have spent a few weeks rested and reinvigorated to push the Warriors forward. Golden State will keep a close eye on the recovery process, especially given the 34-year-old’s long history of foot and ankle injuries.
Meanwhile, Kerr has been around Curry enough to gather a strong sense of the three-time NBA champion’s mental approach to his craft after returning from injuries. The Warriors will also use the next few weeks before the playoffs to fine-tune their offensive approach without their driving offensive force.
Beyond that, Golden State needs Curry to perform at an elite level if they hold any chance of vying for a championship.
Star point guard’s absence opens the door for other Warriors to shine
Curry’s extended absence may lead to other promising ripple effects that could bode well for the Warriors’ playoff push.
Golden State will need a strong collective effort to fill his offensive void, leaving the door open for Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson to find their rhythm. In recent weeks, Poole has quietly been one of the team’s most reliable scoring factors.
The Michigan product is amid his most productive months, averaging 23.3 points on 56.4% shooting from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc in nine games. His standout stretch includes eight 20-point outings and a pair of 30-point performances.
Poole has excelled in spurts this season, especially when presented with an increased scoring role. Expect that trend to remain, as he will receive ample opportunity to carry that momentum into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Thompson will have an extended leash to score as the Warriors need him to play near the player he was before his injuries.
He’s shown flashes of his game-changing shooting prowess, especially three games ago when he poured a season-high 38 points behind eight made three-pointers in the win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He may be hitting only 29.9% from distance in March, but he will have plenty of room to find his shooting stroke.
Lastly, the Warriors need Draymond Green to get his legs under him after missing a couple of months due to a back ailment. The final 12 games will provide him more playing time to get his body right ahead of the playoffs.
Curry’s injury puts the Warriors in a tough spot, but his absence could open the door to Golden State getting back on track.
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The post Steve Kerr Believes Stephen Curry’s Injury Will Be a Blessing in Disguise appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.
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By: Bob Garcia IV
Title: Steve Kerr Believes Stephen Curry’s Injury Will Be a Blessing in Disguise
Sourced From: www.sportscasting.com/steve-kerr-believes-stephen-curry-injury-blessing-disguise/
Published Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2022 19:12:43 +0000
