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Golden State Warriors: Kevin Durant needs help carrying the offense

By Nathan Beighle

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 29, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 29, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Thankfully Stephen Curry will return tonight because Kevin Durant has received almost no help carrying the Golden State Warriors offense in his absence.

Two-time MVP Stephen Curry has played just 12 games this season. Although he’s put in MVP-caliber numbers while on the court, the Golden State Warriors have certainly missed his presence. Potentially none have missed Curry more than Kevin Durant.

Durant has been an animal as of late. He’s scored 40+ points in three straight games, including both a 49 and 51-point outing. In the Warriors last ten games, all without Curry, Durant has scored fewer than 25 points just once.

While Durant has been dominant, the Warriors haven’t been. They’ve went 4-6 over their last ten, including a four-game losing streak, their longest in over five years. Those six losses have not been pretty either.

In two of those losses, the Dubs were defeated by more than 20 points. Overall, without Curry, they struggled, but that really shouldn’t be the case. Players like Quinn Cook and Jonas Jerebko filled in Steph Curry and Draymond Green as they nursed injuries.

While Cook and Jerebko both played to their standards, it has been Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston that have yet to help the Warriors. Respectively they’ve averaged six points and five points per game over their last ten.

A short-handed Warriors, who have also been down Alfonzo McKinnie, have displayed their lack of depth. Players like Jacob Evans and Jordan Bell haven’t stepped up, and they’ve left Durant begging for help that he’s yet to receive.

That help will return tonight as Steph is expected to be on the court.

It’s about time fans begin to see the Warriors true colors return. With fans watching Kevin Durant torture the other team and still come out with a loss, the questions have started to be raised about the concern of the second unit.

dark. Next. Have the Golden State Warriors lost their identity?

Curry’s absence has shown that it’ll be difficult to win if anything happens to the league’s only unanimous MVP. Durant can lead the team, but they struggle to win with him when he’s the sole captain of the ship.

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