Steve Kerr revealed they expected the worst with Steph Curry's injury: "I'm just relieved it's not more serious and that he will be back"
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was relieved that superstar Steph Curry's latest injury setback wasn't a serious blow. Curry sustained a shoulder injury during the third quarter of the Warriors' 125-119 loss against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
He attempted to strip the ball off Jalen Smith's hands on a defensive possession with his left hand, but after the Pacers' forward powered through, Curry immediately held his shoulder and seemed to be in severe pain. The latest reports by The Atheltic's Shams Charania revealed that Curry suffered a labral injury and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Golden State Warriors All-NBA star Stephen Curry has sustained a labral injury in his left shoulder and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Kerr assessed the situation and believes it's good news that it isn't a long-term issue. Here's what the four-time championship-winning coach said about his star player's injury and the impact of his absence moving forward (via 95.7 The Game):
"I have no idea how long [Steph] will be out. I'm just relieved it's not more serious and that he will be back. That was good news today."
He added:
"When guys go down, there's always opportunity for other players. That's the case here. We're going to have to hold down the fort and it's not going to be easy. It's been a rough go anyway, even with Steph."
The defending champions have gotten off to a sub-par start this season. They are one game below the .500 mark, reeling in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 14-15 record. The Warriors have played well in spurts but haven't been able to sustain that, especially on the road. They dropped to 2-13 away from home after losing to the Pacers.
Golden State struggled with Steph Curry on the floor, who has played at an MVP-caliber level and is by far their most consistent player. It will be an uphill task for the team to continue without him.
It's now or never for the Warriors' bench to step up as Steph Curry goes down with injury
The Golden State Warriors look entirely different when their second unit is on the floor. Unlike their previous championship runs, the Warriors lack quality in their depth. With franchise stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green inching close to their mid-30s, the Dubs have created a balance between staying competitive and developing prospects.
Unfortunately, it's not helping their cause at all this season. The Warriors' second unit has been disappointing for most of the year. It's even more frustrating because their starters are putting up numbers that stack well against the league's best five-man lineups.
However, they will need more than that to win games consistently. With Steph Curry out, it puts more pressure on the Warriors' young guys to step up and help the team turn a corner. With their best player sidelined, the Dubs will be aware they don't have anyone to rely on. It could work in their favor.
Simply put, the Warriors' backs are against the wall. However, sometimes when the situation gets extremely tricky, the team comes together and puts their mind and focus on a collective goal. The Warriors could emerge as a better team if the guys that are available play with more intensity.
Coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors' brass will hope that is the case in franchise star Steph Curry's absence over the next few weeks.