Steve Kerr talked about what Curry's minutes could look like if he plays in the first game. There is a time and a place for it.
The Golden State Warriors are back in the playoffs for the first time in two years. The last time they were in the playoffs, there weren't many expectations.
They are expected to make it through the first round. Maybe the second. Some people think they could go to the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors were clear favorites to win it all every season during their dynasty era.
Stephen Curry said that nobody is picking them to win and that he doesn't think anyone is picking them to come out of the West. We have a game plan we are going to try and execute on Saturday in order to win four games.
I think four years ago. I want to win a championship. We are a different team now. I have no expectations. I am not going into the playoffs thinking, "All right, we are going to do this or do that." I am just thinking, "How can we beat Denver on Saturday?" It is a completely different challenge than having one of the greatest rosters ever assembled.
The Warriors are not out of it. A lot has to go right for them to compete with the two teams above them.
The team's health is included.
Curry took a step toward getting Golden State's roster whole again on Thursday as he participated in the team's scrimmage, a crucial marker in getting him back on the court after a month away.
Since the Warriors have yet to play a full game with their entire active roster, they will have to figure out their rotation and playing combinations in real time throughout the playoffs.
Not to mention, they will be doing this with a roster that has not been to the playoffs in a long time. Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and Kevon Looney have a lot of playoff basketball to pull from. Their resume is not as long as that of the other players such as Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, and even players such as Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr.
The Warriors came back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals, and then blew a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. Thompson wanted to show them the range of events that can happen even when you are the favorite to win.
Kobe Bryant told reporters that he wasn't happy after winning the NBA title because his job wasn't done.
Heading into the playoffs, having that individual mindset is all that matters to Thompson.
Thompson said that he still has the same expectation as he did before. We know how hard it is, but nothing is the same. We have the chance to take advantage of it.
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