Pacific Notes: Curry, Lakers, Clippers, Dunn

Stephen Curry hasn’t played for the Warriors since January 30 and won’t be back for at least 10 more days. In the absence of Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ hopes for the season have begun to flat-line, punctuated by back-to-back losses to the Jazz and Bulls, Monte Poole writes for NBC Sports Bay Area.

In the face of Golden State’s injuries, Poole suggests the goal should be to seize the eighth seed in the West, which would give them a better chance at getting through the play-in. Poole acknowledges that the goal is more modest than what the team imagined for itself coming into the season, but it reflects the current state of the team.

Beyond playoff seeding, there’s another reason it would be beneficial to get Curry back in the lineup sooner rather than later: it would allow him to establish some chemistry with Kristaps Porzingis, who spoke this week about looking forward to taking the floor with the two-time MVP for the first time.

We have more from around the Pacific Division:

• The Lakers are cruising right now. On Tuesday vs. the Timberwolves, they turned a season-long weakness — their defense — into a strength to extend their current hot streak, Thuc Nhi Nguyen writes for the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles has won six of its last seven games and, entering Wednesday’s games, had passed the Wolves for the No. 4 seed in the West. The Lakers’ players, including hot-and-cold big man Deandre Ayton, seem to have bought into their roles as of late, says The Athletic’s Dan Woike. Coach JJ Redick was glad to see his center put together such a positive game. “It’s great for his teammates to see him have a really good performance on both ends of the floor,” Redick said. “I think it’s bigger for DA to have a game like that against a really good team, one of the best teams in basketball.”
• After registering one of the worst starts to the season for any team with playoff ambitions, the Clippers have turned things around and have clawed their way back to a .500 record heading into Wednesday’s matchup against Minnesota. While L.A.’s 32-32 record wasn’t necessarily what the team hoped for at this point in the season, it means a lot after that slow start, writes Law Murray for The Athletic. “This team, ever since I’ve been here for six years, our guys always continue to keep fighting when our backs’ against the wall,” head coach Ty Lue said. “And I credit all my coaching staff, just for doing a great job, like I said earlier. Just staying with it, being positive, continue to help these guys get better. And you know, to start 6-21 and be .500 right now, it’s a big thing for us.” Kawhi Leonard has been the driving force behind the team’s success, but he knows none of it matters unless they’re ready for the playoffs.
• Another big part of the Clippers‘ success has been the play of 31-year-old guard Kris Dunn. While Dunn has never been much of a scorer, he has become an All-Defense level guard during his time in Los Angeles, his teammates and coach argue. “It’s a no-brainer that he’s definitely a first-team All-Defensive guy,” Lue said, per Mark Medina of Sportsnaut. “He’s a lockdown defender. Usually in the case when you have great defenders like that, they are good on-ball defenders. But they’re not really good off the ball or they’re not really good in team defense. But he’s all of it.” In a wide-ranging interview with Medina, Dunn discussed his desire for that recognition, his back-and-forths with Luka Doncic, and more.