Stephen Curry’s injury will derail playoff hopes for Warriors

The Golden State Warriors were legitimate playoff contenders, and while they still may be, Stephen Curry‘s tailbone injury will drastically set them back and put them in a nearly unrecoverable hole.

After their recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Warriors have sunk to just 22-22 through 44 games. Remember that this season is also just 72 due to Covid-19 cutting into the 2019-2020 season, forcing this current one to barely start in 2020.

Stephen Curry is expected to miss at least the next three games, and it could put the Golden State Warriors outside of playoff contention.

That said, this team just isn’t going to be able to find a rhythm with Curry on the sideline. He was top-five in scoring in the NBA prior to being injured, and he was playing at an MVP-like level. Without Curry, this team just isn’t the same.

What team actually plays to their potential when you take out a player averaging 29 points per game though?

It’s tough to see this team as a playoff contender if they lose their next three straight. In a difficult Western Conference, they’ll be having to keep pace with the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a tough ask for players like Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr.

While both have played well in spurts, neither has shown an ability to lead a team, and when Green is the leader, the team struggles.

This Golden State team cannot last without Curry on the court, and we knew coming into the season that if he missed a stretch of play it could have drastic consequences. The Warriors are 1-4 this season without Curry, beating the Grizzlies in the first of their back-to-back about a week ago.

The team’s saving grace could be the trade deadline. However, it doesn’t seem likely that they do enough to change this roster into one that could truly contend for a title. The Dubs will have to wait till Thompson returns next season to make that dream a reality.

For the Warriors this season, they were 21-20 prior to Curry’s injury. They have the Kings, Hawks twice, Bulls, Raptors, and Heat coming up. Even with Curry, that could be a tough stretch mainly against competent, playing-contending teams.

The Warriors could lose a handful of those. After having five straight Finals appearances over the past six seasons, Golden State still has a target on their back. They still get team’s best effort on a nightly basis.

They just aren’t the same without Klay Thompson and are a ghost of their former selves without Stephen Curry. That said, expect a tough stretch of play ahead.