USA TODAY International Edition
All’s not lost for Curry- less Warriors
The Warriors received medical results that confirmed their worst fears.
After Stephen Curry had surgery to treat his broken left hand Friday, Golden State ruled him out for at least the next three months. The Warriors plan to re- evaluate him around early February. By that point, Curry will have missed 45 games.
So the Warriors have a clear direction on where this season will head following a 1- 5 start after a 93- 87 loss Saturday to the Hornets. Unlike the past five years, it does not involve making an NBA Finals appearance.
❚ Prioritize keeping Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green healthy. No need to rush Curry or Thompson back from their injuries. Lighten the workload of Green when he returns; he suffered a torn ligament Friday and the team said he was expected to be out for a few games. That way, the Warriors’ remaining All- Stars will be at their best and sharpest for next season. That does not mean the Warriors should shut down all of these players completely. Green can teach his teammates defensive concepts. Curry and Thompson could help develop the young guards. But no need to trot them out just to chase empty wins.
❚ The Warriors have a lottery pick to protect. They won’t say they are outwardly tanking. But if they play the guys they have, the losses will come. Then their odds will increase with keeping their pick owed to Brooklyn that is protected one through 20.
❚ Give D’Angelo Russell the keys to the car. This marks the time for Russell, who didn’t play Saturday because of a sprained right ankle, to grow again after landing his first All- Star appearance last season with the Nets. Without Curry, Russell will carry most of the ball- handling and scoring duties. That will only give the Warriors clarity if he is a long- term investment or a possible trade asset.
❚ Find which young guys are worth keeping or selling. Veteran forwards Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III, five- year center Willie CauleyStein, fourth- year center Marquese Chriss and wings Ty Bowman and Damion Lee will be free agents next summer. The Warriors have longer commitments toward second- year forward Jacob Evans, center Omari Spellman, as well as rookies Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall and Alen Smailagic.
❚ Give Warriors fans a reason to go to the new Chase Center. If the Warriors show enough progress with their development, their fan base will stick with them in San Francisco just as they did before the dynasty began.