Oakland, Calif. • The two-time MVP is known for his light, quick steps that fluster opposing defenses. But on Sunday afternoon, Steph Curry looked stiff as he hoisted himself onto the news conference platform.
The 30-year-old Golden State star took a spill on Friday and was subsequently diagnosed with a grade-2 MCL sprain that will keep him out for at least three weeks. Even beyond that window, when he is expected to be reevaluated, Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t seem to have much optimism that Curry will be ready to go for round one of the postseason, saying “there’s no way.”
Always one for a challenge, Curry hoped at his Sunday afternoon news conference that he’d be able to prove his coach wrong.
“I’m trying to stay upbeat, hoping I can put myself in a position to get back as soon as possible,” he said. “Right now, who knows? Just try to do my job and get back as soon as I can.”
Curry has dealt with numerous injuries this season, missing the last matchup with the Jazz at Oracle Arena in December, and just coming back Friday from an ankle injury. Ankle issues were a problem for Curry at the beginning of his career, and the concern was serious enough that he wore an ankle brace when he started against the Hawks.
But in that game in the second half, teammate JaVale McGee accidentally rolled into him. Curry said he didn’t know what was wrong — but he knew it was potentially serious.
“It was a confusing one because I didn’t know what it exactly was,” he said. “I joked that my first thought was, ‘Thank God, it’s not my ankle.’ But other than that, I was just trying to take my time and kind of assess what was going on.”
The injury is one of intrigue to the NBA as a whole: Curry is the preeminent 3-point shooter (42.3 percent, 4.2 3-pointers per game) in the league, and his range stretches defenses like no other. But it’s also of particular interest to teams such as the Jazz, who may face Golden State (seemingly destined for the No. 2 Western Conference seed) in the first round of the playoffs. Curry is averaging 26 points and six assists per game this season, and while the Warriors still have three All-Stars without him, they look slightly more mortal without his outside threat.
The West is far from settled, so while the Jazz could be the No. 7 seed and match up with Golden State, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs are also within that range. While the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are currently on the outside looking in, they’ve kept their hopes alive late in the season.
For a team that has gone to the Finals three straight seasons, it might be against the Warriors’ nature to fret about their first-round chances. Kerr didn’t seem to bat an eye at the possibility.
“We are blessed with a great roster and a lot of depth,” he said. “So let’s get it going, let’s play, let’s compete and hold down the fort. No reason we can’t come out and play really well down the stretch and be ready for the playoffs. Then maybe we get Steph back and see what happens.”
