After only playing two games in the 2016 NBA playoffs so far, Stephen Curry has been upgraded to questionable for the Golden State Warriors’ Game 4 vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
The most incredible regular-season shooting in NBA history hasn’t flowed into the playoffs for Stephen Curry yet. Due to some initial ankle issues and a Grade 1 MCL Sprain he suffered in Game 4 against the Houston Rockets, he’s only played in two postseason games and has left the Golden State Warriors to prove themselves in his absence.
So far, they’ve done just that. They cruised past the lacklustre Rockets in five games, and despite losing their latest game to the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 after some 40-point heroics from Damian Lillard, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have well and truly stepped up to lead the way.
Nevertheless, before the Warriors surely advance to the Western Conference Finals, they’ll want Curry to get some reps before he’s thrown in at the deep end against an elite contender in the form of either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. And in Game 4 against Portland, that may be the case as his status has been upgraded to questionable (per Tim Kawakami of Mercury News).
Steve Kerr says Stephen Curry is questionable for tonight. No more issues have cropped up in last 24 hours. Decision to be made later today.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 9, 2016
Of course, this is good news for the Warriors and their anxious fans, worrying day by day what the status of their superstar and now two-time MVP is. However, while a return on Monday night in Game 4 would beat the initial return time of two weeks, it may not be best for the Warriors to play Curry.
Even after losing the last game, the Warriors still have more depth overall than the Blazers and providing they’re able to control the duo of Lillard and C.J. McCollum as much as possible, the reigning champs should have the defense to hang on another couple of days without Curry until Game 5.
Perhaps Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is wary of the Blazers tying the series at 2-2 as they enjoy their second game in Portland, but there’s no doubt that a more confident and 100 percent Curry would return to help close out the series even if that is the case.
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens tonight. Curry’s possible appearance seems like a game time decision.
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