Reigning MVP Stephen Curry is not expected to suit up Saturday for the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Though he won’t be on the court, Stephen Curry can still make his presence felt. Kerr made the announcement on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday. Although “2-0” may initially look bad for Portland, it’s not as awful as you might think. The Warriors eliminated the Rockets in five games.
Jonas Valanciunas had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and DeRozan added 22 points for the Raptors, who dropped to 1-9 in the opening game of a postseason series.
Plumlee needs to be more of an offensive factor in Game 3.
Most importantly, the Warriors have lost just one playoff game, and it came on a game-winning jumpshot from James Harden that, after official review the next day, was ruled an offensive foul. Kerr would like to see Curry play at least three-on-three before he gets back into games. Game 4 on Monday is still a conceivable option if Curry keeps making good progress. If Lillard and McCollum are on-and Portland’s role players outplay their expectations-then the Blazers are a legitimately scary team, as we’ve seen during stretches in the regular season.
That game won’t mean as much if the Blazers don’t win Game 3, but Lillard and his team have a history of stepping up after getting knocked down.
If there was a time for the Blazers to steal a game from the Warriors, this was it. No MVP Stephen Curry on the court and a double digit lead going into the fourth. Going into halftime, Portland held an 8-point lead and things started to look bleak for Golden State, as they were again outscored by 3 points, 28-25, in the third period.
“It hurts to go back in the locker room after you play so well for so long and you come back in there with the L. But it is a part of growth”, he said. Golden State has won four straight in the wake of Curry’s setback and even though Portland is full of dogged performers (working in front of a home Portland crowd that rivals Golden State’s for its voraciousness), it would not be a surprise in the slightest if the Warriors swept. Festus Ezeli was the Warriors unsung hero in Game 2 and if Steve Kerr quits messing around with his minutes, he too can be vital to another Warriors’ victory. Golden State is one of the smartest teams of all-time and know what it takes to win, clearly.
“We need that same concentration more than anything else tomorrow”, Stotts said.
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And even if the Blazers don’t concern them, the opponents waiting them should.
