Golden State Warriors must retain win-first mentality without Stephen Curry

With superstar Stephen Curry out for at least the next three weeks, the Golden State Warriors face an uphill battle to keep their stumbling season in some sort of promising direction. Even then, the magnitude of Curry’s loss is so great that some believe it to be a pointless exercise, and that instead, the franchise should fully embrace a youth movement over the coming period.

Golden State have five players in their first three seasons in the league, with the team’s two-timeline plan proving difficult to navigate in a disappointing 14-15 start to the season.

The Golden State Warriors need to retain a win-now mindset despite the absence of Stephen Curry and the roster’s talented youth.

Going all-in on the youngsters may prove a tipping point in each direction of the axes. It could practically end their season as tough opposition means Golden State fall too far behind for even Curry to resurrect over the second half of the season. Alternatively, it could be the turning point for the Warriors’ recent lottery picks, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, each of whom have struggled with regular minutes and consistent opportunity.

But the risk of the downside occuring is simply too great while Curry is still in MVP level form — he was averaging exactly 30 points on 43.4% shooting from three prior to the injury. Letting another great Curry season go to waste would leave a stain on the franchise, and something the front office and ownership may never reconcile with.

Golden State must retain a win-now perspective, with increased opportunities for the youngsters likely to come naturally regardless. Despite the tough schedule, including four games left on their six-game road-trip, the Warriors have the talent to be able to manufacture unlikely wins to keep themselves afloat.

Jordan Poole will step into the vacant point-guard role, having averaged over 25 points in 17 games that Curry missed last season. While Klay Thompson has his inefficient games that may cost wins, he’s equally capable of exploding for shooting nights that can single-handedly drag the Warriors to victory.

Draymond Green and Kevon Looney need to continue leading a defensive unit that’s been poor on the road, with the reliance on them now amplified given Golden State’s offense will undoubtedly suffer in Curry’s absence. Andrew Wiggins, battling his own injury that’s seen him miss five games, is likely to return over the next week.

That’s a starting unit and core nucleus that can still win games, provided the Warriors’ youngsters and bench unit hold up their end of the bargain. If Golden State can maintain somewhere near .500 by the point Curry returns, then not all is lost on a season that’s been short on positives thus far.