The Warriors get pummeled by the Spurs at home and possibly lose another superstar to injury
The past few days have been nothing short of disastrous for Steve Kerr and the Warriors. Aside from opening the season 1-3, the Warriors are now down their leader, two time MVP Stephen Curry, for at least three months.
The Dub's got news of Curry's timetable on Friday morning, hours before their game against the San Antonio Spurs. Considering the Warriors had been struggling to show fight before Curry's injury, the expectation of the group without Curry was as close to the bare minimum as it possibly could be.
With that said, the Dubs showed the fight that was missing in their game against Suns to open the first half Friday night.
The Warriors needed to speed up the game, considering their lack of size and control pace while doing so. D'Angelo Russell poured in 19 points in the first half, pushing the ball after every Dub rebound.
After the Oklahoma City loss, Stephen Curry noted that the squad's defense was killing their offense, noting that they were taking the ball out of the net each defensive play-- killing their ability to push tempo.
Friday night was much different. The Dubs alternated between man and zone defense, holding the Spurs to 39% shooting in the first. Their defensive rotations were solid for most of the quarter, which has been a main issue for the Dubs in their three losses-- particularly on the three-point line.
The second quarter showed a few defensive breakdowns that allowed the Spurs to get momentum. San Antonio got hot from behind the arc and in transition-- Patty Mills being a big factor in the Spurs run.
Going into halftime, despite a relatively good first half, the Dubs found themselves down two. Their defensive breakdowns, particularly on the perimeter, have haunted them in their first four games, and Friday night was no different. This roster with Curry wouldn't be able to outscore teams, so without Curry, they will have to rely on their defense. Friday night, they didn't, and it showed in the second half.
Russell scored another eleven points in the second half, to finish with 30 points. Unfortunately for Steve Kerr and his Warriors, Russell couldn't carry the Dub's alone. The Spurs took control in the third period, scoring 40 points and taking a 97-86 lead. That included 12 points from Aldridge in the quarter, and a 13-2 Spurs run.
Midway through the fourth quarter, fans started making their way to the exits of the new Chase Center. The Dubs are still winless at home this season, this game marking their third home loss.
To add insult to an already injury-stricken squad, following the loss, the Warriors' lone leader Draymond Green, sported a cast on his left index finger when he sat with the media.
"I hurt my finger," Green told reporters. "Little ligament action. It is what it is."
Before Thursday night's game, Kerr told reporters that he planned on limiting Green's minutes, saying that he didn't want to run Green to the ground. Green was one of the last returners standing if you count Damien Lee. Without Green, new questions arise for Kerr and the few players standing. Without Green, veteran leadership will have to come from role players like Lee and Alec Burke-- who has only played in two games after suffering an ankle sprain in training camp.
The Warriors host the Charlotte Hornets Saturday, and the status of Green is still up in the air.
"I don't know. We'll see. It's pretty sore," Green said. "I couldn't grip a basketball since the second quarter, which is why I was making a lot of one-handed, right-handed passes, dribbling left with my right hand. Couldn't really grip the ball. Hopefully, it will calm down a little bit overnight."
Life without Klay Thompson was difficult. Life without Steph Curry seemed impossible. Adding Green to that category feels like a nightmare that Steve Kerr might have to live and coach through. If that is the case, Kerr will have to give D'Angelo Russell the keys to the car entirely.