Stephen Curry is hobbled. However the present goes on.
Simply ask Draymond Inexperienced, who’s totally assured within the Golden State Warriors’ playoff possibilities though Curry left Tuesday’s collection opener towards the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a strained left hamstring.
The Warriors cruised to a 99–88 win regardless of dropping Curry within the second quarter.
“Robin was Batman,” Inexperienced defined. “Alfred was Robin, and so they simply stuffed in. It was lovely to see.”
If the Warriors need to seize a 2–0 collection lead on the street Thursday evening, they probably should shuffle their starring roles as soon as once more.
The unique Batman is Curry, in fact. He averaged 24 factors per sport within the Warriors’ first-round win towards the Houston Rockets, and he drew consideration from defenders that helped liberate lots of his teammates on the offensive finish of the court docket.
Curry was off to a terrific begin in Recreation 1 at Minnesota. He had 13 factors in his first 13 minutes, and the Warriors constructed an early result in subdue a Timberwolves crowd that was desperate to see a win.
However Curry grabbed his left leg after making a floating bounce shot. He signaled towards the bench that one thing appeared incorrect, and he shortly left the sport and by no means returned.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned he was planning for Recreation 2 with out his veteran sharpshooter. Curry is predicted to endure an MRI on Wednesday to study extra in regards to the severity of the damage.
“We don’t know but,” Kerr mentioned. “However with a hamstring, it’s exhausting to think about that he would play Thursday.”
So, what occurs when Batman is out?
Robin will get the decision.
On this case, which means Jimmy Butler. He flirted with a triple-double in Recreation 1 as he completed with 20 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 41 minutes.
Butler loves the highlight. He has performed together with being Robin to Curry’s Batman this season, however everybody is aware of that he’s an alpha at coronary heart. Search for him to attempt to take management in Recreation 2.
Will it work? That’s the tougher query to reply.
Minnesota is a good defensive group regardless of exhibiting some breakdowns in Recreation 1. The Timberwolves can be determined to salvage a sport at residence earlier than the collection shifts west, and coach Chris Finch virtually actually will draw up a sport plan to attempt to frustrate Butler as a lot as potential.
If Robin turns into Batman, as Inexperienced defined, then Alfred might want to fill Robin’s position. On this case, which means Buddy Hield can be requested to step up and fill a number of the void left by Curry.
Hield has proven he can deal with the additional tasks. He scored 33 factors on 12-for-15 taking pictures — together with 9-for-11 from 3-point vary — in Recreation 7 at Houston, and he stayed scorching on Tuesday evening with a team-high 24 factors whereas making 5 of eight pictures from distance.
It’s affordable to suppose that Hield will cool off quickly, maybe as quickly as Recreation 2. He’s an excellent shooter, however he averaged 11.1 factors in the course of the common season, and in some unspecified time in the future one would suppose he would regress to the imply.
Inexperienced left himself out of the Batman description, however clearly he’s the villain in any present. He had a powerful collection opener during which he completed with 18 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists.
Maybe equally as essential, Inexperienced performed with an edge however stayed cautious to not go over the sting. He should take that method once more Thursday, particularly if the motion intensifies and the Timberwolves attempt to beat him at his personal sport by getting below his pores and skin.
It’s too quickly to know if Curry can be again within the collection and, if that’s the case, how quickly.
Don’t rely out the Warriors, although.
