What’s your level of optimism that your next re-evaluation will be your last? Stephen Curry: What are we, a week away from that date? I think, at that point, I should be able to say when I’ll play. Hopefully, it’s that day or that next game or two. But, yeah, it’s just a matter of staying patient. We have a pretty good protocol that Rick (Celebrini) has in place for me to get to that date so I can really test it out. From there, we’ll see.
Storyline: Stephen Curry Injury
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Nick Friedell: Steph says he’s feeling better — but still no target date for his return publicly set yet as he continues recovery from a strained left groin. He will be re-evaluated in a week.
Connor Letourneau: Stephen Curry provides an update on his groin injury. He’s optimistic that he’ll return soon after he is re-evaluated Nov. 24.
Steph Curry’s groin strain isn’t healing as quickly as expected. On Wednesday, the team announced he’d miss at least another 10 days (and five games) before his next evaluation. On Thursday, Kerr explained the reason for the extended absence. “Obviously, it’s taking longer than we first anticipated, but that’s because the original MRI didn’t show anything terrible,” Kerr said. “I think I referred to it as encouraging. But as (director of sports medicine) Rick (Celebrini) explained to me, the symptoms are the most important. Sometimes, the symptoms and the MRI don’t fit.”
Nick Friedell: Kerr says Curry is feeling better but Warriors will be very cautious as he recovers from a groin injury. Kerr says Curry will need lots of court time before he returns to games. Sounds like he will be out at least a couple more weeks.
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry will sit both sides of this back-to-back. Already ruled out tomorrow vs Hawks. Kerr said they’re being extra careful: “New injury for him…He’s never had a groin strain.”
Mark Medina: Warriors rule out Stephen Curry for tomorrow vs Clippers. Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston are questionable
The Warriors can take solace in the belief that none of the injuries should result in lengthy absences, though Curry is displeased to be joining the temporarily disabled. “He’s pretty bummed out, but the MRI was basically good news,” Kerr said. “This doesn’t look like it’s going to be a long-term injury. He’s disappointed, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Mark Medina: Warriors adding that “preliminary analysis” of Steph Curry’s MRI shows a mild to moderate left groin strain. As noted, Curry is out for tomorrow vs. Brooklyn. Using conventional wisdom, I wouldn’t be surprised he’s out on Monday against Clippers in LA. But we’ll see.
Payton has been upgraded on the team’s injury report a couple times this week and was deemed a game-time decision to play Saturday against Phoenix, which would be his first game action in exactly two weeks. “We’ll have to see,” fourth-year head coach Alvin Gentry said after Friday practice of Payton’s status. “He’s going to do some other stuff (physically to test whether Payton can play). He’s a game-time decision. He’s made progress.”
Logan Murdock: Stephen Curry took a rehab day today and didn’t participate in scrimmage. Steve Kerr says he’ll play opening night, though.
If you search on Twitter using the hashtag #NBAHandlesWeek you will find some highly entertaining stuff.To celebrate, Steph Curry recently sat down with Steve Smith for an NBATV feature. One question Smith asked Curry: “Who’s your Mt. Rushmore of all-time ball handlers?” Curry’s Top 4: “Myself, Kyrie (Irving), Pistol Pete (Maravich) and Magic Johnson.”
“I think Steph’s healthy,” Kerr said. “He’s moving fine. But it’s more rhythm than anything. If you come back from six weeks (absence) in the regular season, chances are you’re going to have a game where nobody’s focused, the other team is playing a fourth in five nights, the defense isn’t that tough, you’re going to make a bunch of 3s and feel good.”
Kerith Burke: Steph Curry says he feels fine, gave two thumbs up, and doesnt want keep answering that question. He agreed with Kerr’s assessment that he’s still finding his rhythm and he’s doing it at a time of year where the stakes are higher.
Sam Amick: Seemed fitting to share this here: Was told Warriors are not concerned about Steph Curry’s left knee, and that he wouldn’t be playing if they were (since us media types and fans have been wondering) twitter.com/espn_macmahon/…
“I feel good. I feel good,” Curry told The Undefeated. “It’s something that you can’t shake off because of how recent the injury was. But I’m out there. I feel great, and I’m not worried about anything with my knee. I keep saying the same thing. I feel good.”
Stephen Curry is 1-for-13 on triples through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, and, as any observer of the series has noted, he seems to be playing slower than usual. Asked if that’s a conditioning or knee-related issue, Payne, Curry’s personal trainer and the founder and owner of Accelerate Basketball, offered the following explanation. “Just how hard he’s having to work defensively is certainly, probably, showing up on the other end just a little bit,” Payne said. “But that’s not an excuse.” “I really think that with the layoff that they have between last night and when they play again this weekend, there will be a lot of time to kind of reflect on everything — what did and didn’t work.”
As Curry reflected on his progress, he strongly credited Fraser for offering guidance both through his workout regimen and when he nursed frustration for sitting on the sidelines. “He keeps my head on straight,” Curry said about Fraser. “He’s always got subtle wisdom to throw my way.”
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry will wear a sleeve, not a brace, on his left knee. No minutes restriction, but team will monitor conditioning: “He’ll do what he can and if he gets tired, we’ll take him out.”
Jim Eichenhofer: Kerr confirmed Stephen Curry will play in Game 2. In terms of Curry’s role, not wanting to tip his hand, Kerr joked, “I’ve decided he will either start or come off the bench.”
Curry has a history of returning to the court from injury and finding his groove immediately. “I expect him to be who he is,” Kevin Durant said Monday. “I’m not saying it’s guaranteed to happen. But he puts in the work and prepares himself right when he’s put in that position, so when he comes out and he plays well it’s not a surprise to me at all.”
Kent Bazemore: 🗣 SC30 back
Monte Poole: Stephen Curry has been completely cleared to play in Game 2, per #Warriors.
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry officially probable for Game 2, per Kerr.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has one goal, assuming he returns to action on Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. “Just not suck after missing five weeks,” Curry told The Undefeated. “That’s my goal.”
While Curry is one of the NBA’s most explosive scorers and outside threats, it sounded like he just wants to fit in Tuesday night. “If I do get the green light, just play my game,” Curry said. “Do what I do on both ends of the court to help the team. There is nothing special about it. Just try to use my energy as a spark.”
After a day off, Curry and the Warriors will practice Monday to prepare for Game 2. The Warriors are still without second-year guard Patrick McCaw (back), who will be re-evaluated in early May and is still walking gingerly. But at least with Curry back, the Warriors’ starting five would be at full strength at the most important time of the season. “It’s exciting for him to get back to the place that he enjoys the most, which is playing basketball,” Durant said. “I’m excited as his brother that he’s out there. We’ll see what happens next game.”
Chris Haynes: Stephen Curry tells ESPN the plan is to make his playoff debut on Tuesday, but says it’s ultimately up to the medical staff. He said he would have played tonight for 20 minuets if it was up to him.
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry pushed to return in Game 1, told Steve Kerr he felt great. Kerr obviously isn’t letting him play, but said he liked that Curry had the confidence he’s ready: “It’s a better answer than ‘My knee still hurts'”
Mark Medina: Alvin Gentry on Stephen Curry missing Game 1: “He will play. It’s not like he’ll miss the entire series.” Gentry said team practiced for both scenarios – Curry playing and sitting
Jim Eichenhofer: Steve Kerr says Stephen Curry will not play tonight in Game 1
Scott Kushner: Kerr said Curry likely to play on Tuesday. “He feels great and wants to play…he’s very likely to play Game 2”
Logan Murdock: Stephen Curry tried to plead his case for Game 1. Kerr :“We have to protect him from himself and his own competitive desire.”
Alvin Gentry on Steph Curry: “We’re preparing for him to play.”
Connor Letourneau: Curry is still questionable for Game 1.
A day before the Warriors begin their second-round series with the New Orleans Pelicans, Curry said he is making significant progress toward a return soon. “I’m getting there, for sure,” Curry said after practice. “I’ve done a lot in the last two weeks, especially on my feet moving, getting back to movements that I expect to do in the games and try to build that tolerance and intensity. My knee feels pretty good. I don’t have any pain with doing the things that I’ve been doing.”
Connor Letourneau: Curry on whether he’ll play tomorrow: “It’s still to be determined. … It is good to be back actually playing basketball.”
Logan Murdock: Stephen Curry said he still needs to see how he feels after he increases his work load. Said he’s waiting to see how he feels tomorrow after playing five on five. “I’m trying to be smart about it.”
Melissa Rohlin: Steph was asked about his relationship with trainer Chelsea Lane: “I’ve seen way too much of her this year. I’m kind of sick of it.”
Tim Bontemps: Stephen Curry is questionable still. He practiced today. He is scrimmaging now behind the curtain. Still seems likely he will play if there is no setback. “He’s definitely more excited he’s nearing a return,” Steve Kerr said.
Mark Medina: Kevin Durant on his defensive mentality/how Steph Curry handled being out pic.twitter.com/BbFuxznY4g
So as he observed Stephen Curry complete an individual shooting workout following Thursday’s practice, Kerr joked he can counter whatever coaching adjustment Gentry makes. “I got your adjustment right here,” Kerr said with a grin as he watched Curry. He is currently listed as questionable for Game 1, though he will be reevaluated on Friday after staying sidelined with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee since March 23.
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry practiced fully today, questionable for Game 1, Steve Kerr says.
Melissa Rohlin: Kerr on Curry: “Steph practiced 100 percent. He did everything. I would say he’s questionable for Game 1. What we have to do is see how his body responds the rest of the day. Put him through another practice tomorrow. I think he needs to string together a few good days.”
Whenever Curry does take the court again, Kerr says the system won’t be disrupted much. “It’s not like we had to alter anything [with Curry out], it’s more just kind of refocusing on certain aspects,” Kerr explained. “And that will change once Steph is back, whenever that is, and we’ll do the same thing with whatever is in front of us. Assuming that that’s the position we’re in, we’ll adapt at that point.”
95.7 The Game: Bob Myers on if it’s possible Stephen Curry could play in Game 1 on Saturday via Papa & @BontaHill: “He’s getting close. So, conceivable? I don’t want to put a percentage on it because I don’t know, but I’m not saying inconceivable.”
New Orleans is trying to prepare for both possible versions of the Warriors, including the one they beat at Oracle Arena on April 7. Curry was sidelined for that game, but Kevin Durant poured in 41 points, going 16/26 from the field. The Pelicans won 126-120 partly because their offense received 25 points or more from Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic, a trio that has played at an elite level throughout an active nine-game winning streak. “A lot of it is personnel, knowing tendencies,” Holiday said of getting ready to face Golden State. “If Steph comes back, you have to be a lot more aggressive on him (in terms of preventing deep three-point shots). If not, with Andre (Iguodala) you have to be aggressive as well, just not in the same way (against a forward who does more attacking and slashing to the basket). The schemes will stay pretty much the same.
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr asked if they were ruling out Steph Curry for this weekend (either for Game 7 vs Spurs or Game 1 vs Pelicans), says it’s just “day-to-day,” didn’t want to “make predictions.”
Connor Letourneau: No surprises on Warriors’ injury report: Team just listing Stephen Curry (left MCL sprain) and Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion), both of whom have been ruled out for Game 5.
Mark Medina: Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry: “Not going to play anytime soon.” Kerr said he is on track, but doesn’t have a timetable on his return
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr on Steph Curry’s recovering knee: “Still has a few limitations, but no pain.”
Chris Haynes: ESPN Sources: Golden State guard Stephen Curry will begin participating in portions of practice starting tomorrow. His re-evaluation occurred today.
Marcus Thompson: “Any hopes of Stephen Curry making it back for Game 1 [of the second round] are much slimmer than it looks like. Because [the media] has been posting videos of Steph doing these workouts, and you know, it feels like, ‘Wow, that dude is ready!’ But he’s not as ready as it looks. He’s not behind schedule, he’s just really on schedule. [And] on schedule doesn’t get him back for Game 1–it’ll be tough for him to get back for Game 1 of the second round. It’s probably going to take the full amount of time, and from what I’ve been told, that’s a little frustrating to him.”
According to multiple sources, Curry is still not close to playing. Despite video of him doing work on the court, which has fans salivating about his return, he isn’t in the final stages of his rehabilitation. He will be evaluated on Friday. He is on schedule but not on pace to beat the announced timelines. The working parameters have been 4 to 6 weeks since JaVale McGee crashed into Curry’s left knee.
This time, he suffered a Grade 2 sprain on March 23 in that McGee collison. Friday will make four weeks since the injury. It is looking as if the ligament will need a full six weeks to heal. That six-week point would be May 4. That could mean it’s more realistic for Curry, who no doubt is desperate to return to action, to return for Game 3 of the next round — especially if you factor in the Warriors’ usual cautiousness.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr disputed a report from TNT play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan during Game 2 that said Kerr informed him Stephen Curry would be sidelined for an additional three weeks to rehab his Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee. “It was probably a miscommunication when we met before the game,” Kerr said. “We don’t have any timetable for this. I’m not exactly sure what that was about.”
Logan Murdock: Warriors’ latest injury report for game 2: Andre Iguodala (left thigh contusion) is available to play. Stephen Curry (left MCL sprain) is out. Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) is out.
Jeff Zillgitt: Curry will be re-evaluated in one week. But will intensify on-court activity, per team.
Connor Letourneau: Kerr on what the next phase of Curry’s rehab will look like: “I have no idea. … When he’s ready, he’s ready. But he’s making progress, and that’s a good sign.”
Even without Curry, who missed 16 of the Warriors’ final 17 games, Kerr maintained that he’s confident the Warriors can beat any team. “I do, I do,” Kerr said on The Jump. “We’ve played over 30 games without Steph this year, so we’re accustomed to what we have to do. We had a stretch in December where we went 9-1 without Steph. Our defense was the best defense in the league over that 10-game stretch. That’s what it takes.”
Logan Murdock: Steve Kerr on the Stephen Curry sighting today: “It’s good to see him moving around but he’s not close to playing.”
Stephen Curry back during second round?
Shams Charania: Warriors star Stephen Curry (sprained MCL) is targeting expected return at some point in the Western Conference semifinals, league sources told Yahoo. Curry has three-week evaluation on Saturday.
Anthony Slater: Official re-evaluation comes Saturday, but expectation remains that Steph Curry won’t play a minute in the first round, Steve Kerr said.
Zach Lowe: I was talking to several coaches and execs from teams in the West morass from the No. 3 seed to No. 8 and No. 9—[and] the fear factor of the Warriors without Stephen Curry does not exist. There are [NBA] people who’d say they’d rather play the Warriors right now in the first round than the Oklahoma City Thunder [or] the Utah Jazz.
Marc J. Spears: Warriors guard Stephen Curry says to @CSNBayArea during game against the Suns that he hasn’t had any setbacks and adds he is looking forward to more progress and the playoffs. Didn’t offer a return date.
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry was on the court some pregame, had a knee brace on, but didn’t do much. Mobility still limited.
Monte Poole: Says #Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry’s progress: ‘There’s nothing there. (Check back) next week.’
Sidelined by a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, Stephen Curry is optimistic that he can return in time for the first round of the playoffs. Curry may be so optimistic because his two daughters, Riley and Ryan, are helping him with his rehab. “When our athletic trainer comes by the house to do some rehab sessions, she takes my girls through the whole process, lets them use some of the tools on my knee and things like that so they feel involved and they’re helping Daddy get better. … They know how much I love to play basketball, so they’re helping me get back on the court. I think they have a pretty good awareness of the process and how hard I’m working to get back on the court, for sure.”
Melissa Rohlin: Steve Kerr on Steph Curry saying he wants to prove Kerr wrong and come back in the 1st round: “We’ve got to protect him from himself.”
Mark Medina: Stephen Curry will not travel with the team during the regular season since he’ll rehab. But he plans to for playoffs. Steph will also be around at practice and at home games to encourage guys
November 20, 2018 | 3:19 am EST Update
According to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, Jordan is “hellbent” on keeping Walker in a Hornets uniform even though he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Charania went on to note the Hornets “still want to build their franchise around” the dynamic playmaker who poured in 60 points in Saturday’s overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Markelle Fultz: God got Me ! 🙏🏽
Jonah Bolden: Always and forever bruh 🙏🏽
As they did, however, Markelle Fultz watched from the bench, having been benched in favor of McConnell as head coach Brett Brown tried to give his team an injection of life. And after McConnell did just that, helping lift Philadelphia to a 119-114 victory — its third straight win — Brown wouldn’t commit to either player as his backup point guard moving forward. “I don’t know,” Brown said after Monday’s win. When asked what would inform his decision, Brown said, “Just when I think it through deeper and look at tape and see who we’re playing, the next opponent, all those things I should do.”
One week after a blowout loss in Sacramento that sealed the fate of his two-month trade saga, Butler is enjoying his new reality with the Philadelphia 76ers — leading them to two straight victories, including a 28-point performance in his home debut on Friday night against Utah. He then had the game-winning 3-pointer and game-winning block to lift the Sixers past Charlotte and Kemba Walker’s 60 points on Saturday night. “Night and day,” Butler told The Athletic of his new situation.
“We learned a lot from our series against the Celtics, and we felt we needed Jimmy,” Harris told The Athletic. “Since last summer, we’ve felt we needed a third elite talent. You don’t get a chance to get this talent every day. Jimmy wants to win, and Joel and Ben want to win. That’s the bottom line.”
Brian Dulik: #Cavaliers SF Kyle Korver joking about battling former teammate @KingJames and #Lakers on Wednesday @TheQArena: “We know all of his tendencies and we know how to take them away.” #BeTheFight #NBA
