The Warriors have no plans to shut down Stephen Curry for the remainder of the season, head coach Steve Kerr said Friday on 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs show (YouTube link). The superstar guard continues to deal with patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee) in his right knee and is out at least one more week.
“We’re not going to do anything silly, obviously,” Kerr said (story via Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area). “We are protecting him. But as soon as he’s healthy, he’s going to play. That’s what this is about. We have lots to play for. We’re right in the mix in the playoffs.
“This is an injury that’s been nagging. It’s not like this is something that’s going to hurt him next year if we put him out there now. It’s just injury management. As soon as he’s healthy and ready to go, he’ll be out there.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Curry told Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area that while he’s frustrated with his knee issue, he’s focused on returning “as fast as possible.” “The goal is to be healthy come playoff time and be available when it matters most,” Curry said (Twitter video link). “Obviously, I’d love to be playing right now. If you’re healthy, you’re able to play. I’m headed in the right direction and hopefully it won’t be too much longer.”
- Draymond Green struggled mightily in Thursday’s loss to Boston, missing all seven of his field goal attempts and finishing with zero points, three assists and two rebounds. The nine-time All-Defensive member was minus-28 in 18 minutes. Kerr said the onus is on him and his coaching staff to figure out ways to help Green with Curry out, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “I’ve got to do a better job of helping Draymond,” Kerr said after Friday’s practice. “The game is so different without Steph. Those two guys have built such a rapport for 14 years now. They’ve been playing together, and for sure, in my 12 (years), the two-man game with those two guys has been our bread and butter. When Steph goes out, it really changes everything in terms of how defenses guard us, and it impacts Draymond probably more than anybody.”
- Trade deadline acquisition Kristaps Porzingis was a little rusty in his Warriors debut on Thursday, writes Anthony Slater of ESPN, but his overall performance was encouraging and he’s eager to play more minutes after logging 17 in the defeat. “Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go longer,” Porzingis said. “Even if I’m exhausted out there, I still want to push myself. But I know I have to take it step by step. Add a couple minutes next game hopefully.” The Latvian big man will get his wish, Friedell tweets — Kerr said Porzingis will play “a few more minutes” in Sunday’s contest vs. Denver.
Green should be playing with KP for some easy dunks. Moody and Podz needs to step up and score 30 a game. Kerr’s rotations make no sense. Going up against Nuggets next he better go with taller players he has and no more small ball loses.
Unicorn is not a big inside threat.
He’s more a skilled guy like Dirk and Towns and Anthony Davis.
These guys like jump shots and making the creative pass themselves. They’re not bruising underneath and getting banged on.
There will be no easy dunk game.
Green is a good passer so now he has a go to player to pass to. Instead of being a TO deficit.
10 days until Curry is shut down for the season.
Giannis and LeBron to the Dubs in the offseason.
Gonna be fun NEXT YEAR. lol
Thanks Davey 4.0 !! 😆
HAHA!!
I think LeBron is going to either end up a warrior or back with the Cavs.
0 chance he goes to the warriors. He will not take a big pay cut to do so.
Both W’s and Cavs can only pay LeBron market value if they do a sign and trade, which would cap them at the first apron. Neither the Cavs nor Warriors can build a contender as first apron teams in ‘26-27 – the rest of the roster is too expensive.
And I don’t see any reason why LeBron would give any team a big discount. The man wont even pony up for Spotify Premium.
I think Lakers will pay him his market value and bump up against the second apron, then aggregate and trade him mid-year if things go south to the Warriors or Cavs.
Or the Brooklyn Nets could use their max salary slot on him, knowing he sells tickets and could be flipped for bad money and draft picks.
There’s just no way he takes the minimum, and that’s all the Cavs and Warriors can offer him.
It’s my gut feeling he takes low money. He’s 60 years old lmao
Mr double single these days. $27 million player option is going to hurt. A pedestrian 4th qtr for Boston made the scoreline quite flattering really.
I’m not even being nice to Podz anymore. He sucks, big time. I’m not sure what Kerr sees in him. Anything over the league minimum is overpaying.
Getting the 8th seed is hardly anything to be excited about. NBA wasteland, not in the lottery and a beating coming. Wonder when LeBron is going to asked Steph if he can go play with him, again.
Podz is just a bench player. He has all the opportunities to be the guy now Curry is hurt but hasn’t stepped up. None of the warriors players have shown to be the offense leader.
I haven’t changed my mind on Podz watching him in the summer league his rookie season. When was that?
At some point, you’ve just got to admit he won’t get better and play him accordingly. 10-15 minutes a night. Podz will break more backboards than Shaq before he’s done.