Stephen Curry was injured earlier this week in the game against the Houston Rockets, so Golden State coach Steve Kerr and power forward Draymond Green are already considering how the San Francisco team should run its offense while its biggest star remains sidelined. For now, the plan is working well, as they routed the New Orleans Pelicans 104-96 this past weekend.
The Warriors struggled defensively, surviving a brutal shooting night: 38 of 93 from the field, including 16 of 48 in the first half. Their rhythm completely disappeared, and every possession became a grueling effort. Even so, for observant viewers, tonight’s struggle offered a glimpse into the plan they’ve devised to operate in the absence of “The Chef.”
What happened to Stephen Curry, and when will he return to the Warriors?
The Golden State Warriors were without Stephen Curry against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday due to a quadriceps contusion and a muscle strain. The Warriors’ star point guard was seen limping off the court after a series of collisions during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets.
The first incident occurred when Curry attempted to draw a foul against Rockets point guard Amen Thompson but was brought down, resulting in a blocking foul. Shortly after, he drove to the basket for a layup and fell to the court, visibly in pain, forcing him to leave the game. After undergoing an MRI, the Warriors confirmed that Curry avoided serious injury.
This is how Steve Kerr and Draymond Green’s new offensive plan will work with Golden State
Without Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr insisted that generating good shots depends on structure and process. Even lastnight, when the Warriors shot 12-47 from three-point range against a Pelicans team that’s just outside the bottom five in the league in defensive rating, “If you take care of the ball and get shots on goal, it just sets up the game,” Kerr emphasized.
If you take care of the ball and get shots on goal, it just sets up the game
Despite the shots not falling, the game plan was executed well. The San Francisco team’s new approach also lends itself to a more team-oriented offense, similar to the systems used last year by the Memphis Grizzlies and this year by the Miami Heat, which can demand big performances from role players on any given night.
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