For the Golden State Warriors, the loss on Sunday night to the Houston Rockets stung a bit, but not nearly the same way as the many previous losses over the past two months have stung. That’s because star guard Stephen Curry did not play in those losses, and there was frequently a hopeless feel for the outcome pretty much as soon as the game began. But on Sunday, the Warriors went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the West, and lost by one point, falling only after losing the lead in the final 20 seconds, then seeing Curry fail to convert a 30-footer for the win.
Completing the comeback win would have been ideal for Golden State, but the fact is, getting 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting from Curry–in 26 minutes in his first game on the floor since January–gives the Warriors some hope that they will see the Curry they have come to expect in the coming weeks.
That gives the Warriors some hope that they can win two games and land with the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, keeping an otherwise snake-bitten season alive into late April.
Stephen Curry Not Yet Starting
But part of getting Curry, who has been out with swelling in his patellar tendon, back to full health is pushing his minute totals back up to their usual level. Curry, even at the advanced age of 37, typically plays 31-32 minutes per game, and will likely play more once the play-ins/playoffs begin.
Before he was injured in the opener against Minnesota in the conference semifinals last year, Curry averaged 38.3 minutes in the first round against Houston. For his career, Curry averages 34.0 minutes in the regular season and 37.2 minutes in the playoffs.
The Warriors have only four games remaining–Tuesday against the Kings, then a Thursday-Friday back-to-back against the Lakers and in Sacramento. The Warriors close the season on Sunday against the Clippers. The play-in tournament starts on Tuesday< April 14, and the playoffs start on Saturday, April 18.
GettyWarriors coach Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry
Warriors Will Handle Ramp-Up ‘Responsibly’
So, the Warriors still need to get Curry from Point A to Point B. Coach Steve Kerr talked about the challenge of doing that “responsibly,” as he said. Kerr said that Curry, after coming off the bench on Sunday, will revert to the starting lineup, but the Warriors still want Curry to play in quarter-ending stretches.
How to formulate the best way tog et Kerr starting and still finishing quarters, Kerr said, will be worked out with team trainer Rick Celebrini.
Said Kerr on Monday: “I haven’t talked about what the number is, but we have talked about just the idea that there needs to be a ramp up this week, we need to do it responsible. Last night was a great start but he is obviously gonna be in the starting lineup here before long.
“Can he play enough minutes to space it out, accordingly, where he is not sitting for too long stretches, which is why he came off the bench last night? It just felt better for him. We’d like to bump those minutes up if we can, it’s just going to be a process and whatever Rick says.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Outline Likely Stephen Curry Minutes Restriction Changes appeared first on Heavy Sports.