Steph Curry Injury Forces Steve Kerr, Warriors' Staff Into Nightmarish Scramble

Steph Curry injury forces Steve Kerr, Warriors' staff into nightmarish scramble originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The momentum the Warriors generated by an eight-game win streak, boosting hopes for a strong first half of the season, went into an immediate stall Wednesday night in Houston.

Stephen Curry, the primary source behind the team’s Golden surge, sustained an oblique abdominal tear in a 115-108 loss to the Rockets and will miss at least two weeks – likely more.

Houston center Alperen Sengun locked arms with Curry in the first quarter and disengaged with enough force to yank Curry’s right arm awkwardly enough that he immediately grabbed his right side. He left the game in obvious discomfort and did not return.

The tear was diagnosed upon Curry undergoing an MRI examination after the game.

Curry’s absence for at least the next six games sends Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his staff into a nightmarish scramble, as it dramatically changes the offense.

Golden State does not have an ideal point guard behind Curry, so they’ll have to rely on a committee that includes Draymond Green, Yaxel Lendeborg, De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski. There is the likelihood that Brandon Williams, out with a mild hamstring strain, will recover before Curry.

For now, Melton likely moves into the starting lineup, joining Podziemski in the backcourt. They were a frequent pairing in the second half of last season when Curry missed 27 games with runner’s knee. The Warriors were 9-18 while Curry was sidelined.

Both Melton and Podziemski are playing at a higher level than they did last season, but Curry’s absence poses a different kind of challenge.

The biggest difference between this season and last is that Lendeborg is on the roster. The rookie already is tasked with orchestrating the offense when Curry is off the floor, and now those duties get considerably heavier.
Lendeborg provided a glimpse of what’s to come Wednesday night, raising his aggression on offense and finishing with a game-high 25 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.

But there is no “replacement” for what Curry brings. He’s having a marvelous start, particularly for a 38-year-old in his 18th season. He went into Houston averaging 30.6 points per game, shooting 50.3 percent from the field, including 45.7 percent from deep – and 98.7 percent from the line. His accuracy rivals that of the 2015-16 season when he was the only unanimous MVP in NBA history.

Buckle up, Dub Nation. Health is the No. 1 concern for these Warriors, and it’s already slowing their progress.

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