SAN FRANCISCO — Coach Steve Kerr wouldn’t tip his hand Sunday on whether or not Stephen Curry would begin Sport 2 of the Western Convention quarterfinals at Chase Middle.
After enjoying about 22 minutes within the Warriors’ dominant Sport 1 victory Saturday, all indicators level to Curry being obtainable for Sport 2, however it stays to be seen whether or not Golden State will begin Curry or ship him in halfway by means of the primary quarter.
Curry, who’s coming back from a foot harm, got here off the bench Saturday, tallying 16 factors, 4 assists and three rebounds. After his first recreation in a month, Curry stated “every little thing was easy for probably the most half.
“It was good to get again on the market, it was good to really feel a playoff vibe once more, and clearly it’s totally different coming off the bench and attempting to benefit from the minutes which are [allotted] proper now,” stated Curry, who’s below a minute restriction.
Curry missed the final 12 video games of the common season as he nursed a sprained ligament and bone bruise in his left foot. As of Thursday, the three-time NBA champion stated he was nonetheless experiencing gentle ache and discomfort in his injured limb.
Whereas he works his manner again into the lineup, Curry stated it was his determination to return off the bench as a substitute of beginning.
“I realized loads simply from even simply watching Klay’s comeback,” Curry stated. “After I watched him undergo it when he got here again, that’s a very long time he was sitting within the first and a lot of the second and also you’re looking for rhythm. So I wished to play type of I suppose a continuing tempo all through the sport and on what my allotment was that come off the bench and play these six minutes each quarter was most likely the appropriate transfer.”
Kerr beforehand stated he’d wait to see how Curry’s physique reacts to enjoying and can seek the advice of with the Warriors’ coaching employees earlier than figuring out the trail ahead for the remainder of the collection, which continues with Sport 2 in San Francisco on Monday earlier than heading to Denver later within the week.
Curry stated managing his harm going ahead will likely be “a tricky stability.”
“It’s powerful due to the stability between the rehab and remedy half and managing it but additionally attempting to get as a lot work in and getting my ability set proper,” he stated.
However on Sunday, Curry was doing “fairly properly,” in accordance with Kerr.
“He’s going to get photographs up at the moment, somewhat extra work, however must be good to go for Monday,” the coach stated.
Poole’s snub
The decision is in: Jordan Poole just isn't a finalist for the league’s Most Improved Participant award a lot to the frustration of many Warriors followers and the 22-year-old’s teammates.
The finalists, revealed Sunday on Contained in the NBA on TNT, are Darius Garland, Ja Morant and Dejounte Murray.
Poole was snubbed off the listing regardless of going from G League participant a season in the past to some of the dependable offensive weapons for the Warriors this season as he crammed enormous voids for Golden State when Klay Thompson and Curry have been injured.
There’s most likely no yet one more dissatisfied on this consequence than Draymond Inexperienced, who had been trumpeting Poole for the award for the previous few weeks. Inexperienced went on one other passionate rant in assist of his youthful teammate after follow Sunday.
“If Jordan Poole isn’t the … Most Improved Participant then the NBA actually must relook at their course of since you can not discover a man on that listing that has made an even bigger enchancment, I don’t care,” Inexperienced stated. “If we’re speaking about probably the most improved participant, if the award was voted upon based mostly upon its identify, then it’s no brainer who’s probably the most improved participant. I simply concern that these awards typically aren’t voted on in junction with the identify, and that’s the difficulty.”
Title an even bigger Jordan Poole stan than Draymond Inexperienced. We’ll wait.
That’s a tough go
Don’t anticipate there to ever be a second within the postseason, save for rubbish time, with out Curry, Thompson and/or Poole.
“Yeah, I don't have a consolation degree at this level,” Kerr stated of operating a lineup with out not less than a type of guys on the court docket.
After watching Sport 1, are you able to blame him?