The Dub Nation foresaw their current situation 8 minutes into the series, when Stephen Curry limped off the court. The entire Bay Area was ready give their hamstrings to the Chef to watch him cook the T-Wolves in the semis. Instead, they head back to the Target Center with a 3-1 deficit. As for Curry? ESPN’s Shams Charania said that he’s not likely to return till Game 6 at least.
The pressure’s now on Rick Celebrini, their director of sports medicine and performance, who faces a life-or-death situation to get their GOAT back on the court healthy.
Steph’s value to the Warriors is impossible to understate. He averages 26.8/5.4/6.2 in his NBA playoff career. That’s exactly what they’re missing out on right now.
But there might be some good news, as Celebrini’s estimates put Steph at a 7% chance of coming back to full fitness by game 5. And that’s also at the risk of possibly tearing that hamstring in two. So is it worth the risk? Absolutely not. Curry’s veteran extension expires in 2026. So the risk of tearing the hammy could sideline him for the foreseeable future, which could drown his hopes of signing a new mega contract.
All this is down to Celebrini, though. Does he run the risk and play him in Game 5, or does he prioritize his long-term health? According to some Warriors insiders, either situation will result in a win-win. “
He’s going to make the decision that’s best for Steph. Like that’s Steph’s life, Steph’s career, Steph’s, you know, sanity. That’s that’s why they love him. He’s he’s going to do that. But man, I think he’s going to get a challenge. That’s all I’m saying. I think he’s going to. And it’s an interesting thought process where if you’re Steph, you like, don’t know how many I have left,” said Marcus Thompson on Warriors Plus Minus.
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
All this might lead the Dub Nation to believe that Stephen Curry will play in Game 5 on Wednesday. And why not? Curry’s the heart and soul of the team – and his numbers alone don’t speak of his impact on Golden State. But there’s more to it. It’s not just the confidence of the Warriors to be able to win a ring with the Chef. After Jayson Tatum’s injury and the potential NBA finalists from the East, there’s extra motivation for Steph to come back before Game 5.
Jayson Tatum’s injury could force Stephen Curry to make quicker return
The two losses at home may mean a lot, but the Warriors are confident of beating the Timberwolves with a healthy Steph. And this alone could prompt their GOAT to come back earlier than expected. “The Warriors could beat these guys with Steph Curry. They believe that 100%. This might be on the table. I think Steph might try to play… Because if Steph gets you game five or just the presence of him, get you game five. And you come home for game six off three days and now you get Steph back. If they somehow miraculously survive this series, if you’re Steph, is looking like five is looking more and more possible and you don’t know what’s going to happen next year. That’s kind of the whole point of this, right?” said Thompson on the pod.
Either Denver or OKC await the Warriors in the WCF. Let’s assume they pass that hurdle with Curry in the squad. Will uncertainty in the East play a hand? Absolutely. The #1 and #2 seeds are 3-1 down to the Pacers and Knicks, respectively. While the Cavs have no excuse to lose the next game, the Celtics will be missing out on one key man – Jayson Tatum. When the Knicks got a turnover with 2:58 remaining in the game, Tatum appeared to clutch his knee in great pain on the floor.
He was helped back to the locker room – and even appeared to exit the arena on a wheelchair. Some reports claim Tatum will be out for a significant part of next season, if not for the whole thing. On paper, the prospect of playing either of Knicks-Pacers is less daunting than playing the Cavs or the Celtics. That could force Stephen Curry’s eye for a quick return, in his hunt for another ring, at least according to Marcus Thompson.
Image Credits: IMAGN
“Steph is looking at it might be Indiana, New York, Denver or OKC. And Steph is not looking at this like- I can’t beat those teams. Oh, no. And if Boston wins, he’s like, I can beat Boston. Every right to think that. And the way he was playing, said it [all]. The way I was playing, the way we were playing- that’s what made it so devastating for him. But you can’t just say it and then say that means I should play. You can’t do that. Your body doesn’t work like that. Your body doesn’t heal quicker because Boston is almost out,” said Thompson.
Stephen Curry’s body might not allow for such a tall task. He’s 37 years old, after all. Will Jayson Tatum’s injury give him an added boost? Maybe. But the prospect of playing is far too insignificant for Rick Celebrini’s work to go to waste, and may even cause serious damage to that precious hamstring.
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