They’ve sat, they’ve waited, they’ve wondered, and now they’ve finally received: the Stephen Curry-deprived fans are finally going to get their wish.
Tomorrow, the Golden State Warriors star is expected to make his desperately-awaited return from injury. Curry, 38, has missed the last 27 games. His team has at times looked dead in the water without him.
The basketball world seeks to see what Curry has on tap. The greatest shooter to ever touch a basketball has been long out of sight. Non-Warriors fans, even casual fans, enjoy watching the NBA a little bit more when No. 30 in blue and yellow is hoisting shots from 25 feet.
Expect some of that tomorrow.
Curry is gearing up to join his team tomorrow for a game against the Houston Rockets, who are on a bit of a winning streak. The Rockets have been erratic this season, but perhaps no team has dealt with what the Warriors have.
Golden State has battled through an unbelievably testy season to make it to the final play-in spot. No matter how the team has gotten there, all that matters is that it is there, allowing Curry the opportunity to throw on his hero cape and remind the basketball loyalists of his brilliance.
Stephen Curry set for tomorrow, but remaining games see a twist
Curry participated in two five-on-five scrimmages this week. The outcome of both sessions were resoundingly positive, giving the Warriors medical staff the green light to clear Curry to return to the court.
It has been a long road for the two-time MVP. A runner’s knee injury has hampered his 17th season. He first experienced swelling and pain in his knee Jan. 24. Less than a week later, he began what has gone on to be a lengthy and trying shutdown.
But let’s pivot back to the good: Curry is back and ready to play. Now can he push all the right buttons and bring the best out of his team over the next few weeks?
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 07: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.
While, yes, Curry is back, that doesn’t mean he’ll be left to do the work on his own. It is asking an awful-lot of any player to come back after a two-plus month hiatus and look unfazed. Curry is expected to be rusty. It’s believed it will take him a few games to shake the rust off.
Additionally, Curry isn’t even going to be asked to play all five games between tomorrow and the end of the regular season.
After being out so long with a significant injury, Golden State isn’t going to make Curry push it immediately. As is the case with players who are coming off even more minor injuries, Curry will not suit up to play consecutive nights.
“Curry won’t have much time to reacclimate even if he does come back Sunday,” writes Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. “The Warriors have only five games left in the regular season, and Curry won’t play in all five given a back-to-back set late next week.”
What should fans expect from Curry tomorrow?
We get it.
He’s the Baby-Faced Assassin and perhaps the most entertaining player the sport has ever seen, but let’s keep our expectations for tomorrow in check.
If Curry has a bad game, it shouldn’t surprise anyone.
If Curry sinks double-digit 3-pointers as he sinks his opponent to defeat, it shouldn’t surprise anyone.
The 38-year-old Warriors star is likely to be on some sort of minutes restriction Sunday, whether it’s a soft or hard limit. Considering his age and the length of his absence, it’s more likely he plays 25 minutes as opposed to 35 minutes.
Golden State is at home for this game. The contest will be nationally-televised. Perhaps those two things will make even Curry want to play heavier minutes. He knows Dubs fans have been “Steph-starved.”
Nevertheless, the Warriors absolutely need some time to get Curry on the court to gel with his teammates again.
Between now and the rest of the season, it is all about getting healthy and developing some sort of continuity.
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