In the third quarter of last night’s Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors game, Aron Baynes, unfortunately, landed on the left hand of Stephen Curry and ended up breaking it. While the All-Star guard will undergo a CT scan to determine if surgery is necessary, this injury to Stephen Curry likely spells the end of the Warriors’ playoff hopes.
Stephen Curry Injury: The Impact on the Golden State Warriors
For the last five years, the Warriors have been the near-unstoppable juggernaut of the NBA. They made it through the brutal Western Conference for all five years, winning three NBA Finals after. At the center of it all was Curry, a game-changing shooter the NBA had never seen before. Draymond Green was the heart and emotional leader of the Warriors throughout their entire run, but Curry was the system-warping engine that made the Warriors’ dynasty possible. Even when Kevin Durant was on the Warriors, it was an unspoken truth it was still Curry’s team, despite Durant being arguably the better player.
Despite losing Durant in free agency and Klay Thompson to injury, there was still optimism the Warriors would make the playoffs, in large part because they still had Curry. Before Durant joined in 2016, Curry had just won his second MVP in a row with one of the most dominant offensive seasons in league history. If Curry got back to that level, the playoffs seemed within reach.
Once the games started, the reality was profoundly different from expectations. Curry and the Warriors could still put up points, but they couldn’t stop giving up more. Four games in, the Warriors are scoring 114.5 points per game, but giving up 126.3 on the other end. It turns out losing Durant, Thompson and Andre Iguodala severely depletes their perimeter defense to unsustainable levels. Curry and D’Angelo Russell can’t defend at a high level, and Green is only one person. Russell can score, but Curry was their primary source of offense. The Warriors were already going to struggle to make the playoffs, but Curry’s injury was the nail in the coffin.
The Next Step for the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are better off forgetting this season and focusing on the 2020-2021 season. That means giving Curry as much time to come back as the NBA will allow. Even once he’s back, the Warriors should put him on a “load management” routine for the rest of the season. The Los Angeles Lakers did something similar for LeBron James last season when it became clear they weren’t making the playoffs.
Pivoting to next season also makes sense for Thompson and Green. Now, Thompson won’t have to worry about being rushed back and can focus on recovery. Green should also be put on a “load management” routine to avoid any potential long-term injuries. We take for granted how grueling it is to go to five straight NBA Finals, playing 100+ games a season. After five years, Curry, Thompson, and Green all deserve a long rest. All are under contract for the next few years.
For the rest of the year, the Warriors need to focus on how to restock the team with more perimeter defenders and shooters. Resting their star players means more minutes for their young players to develop. It also means more minutes for Russell, who the Warriors can either keep if he looks good, or trade for pieces after his trade value has built up. The Warriors should also lean into the losses and aim to secure a high draft pick. Nothing helps a team more than cheap young talent.
Though this year seems over for the Warriors, there’s optimism to be found for the next one. A healthy trio of Curry, Green, and Thompson along with a high draft pick and maybe some new pieces can make a run at the title.
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