A curveball might strike out the Warriors in their early season campaign. All the signs pointed at a successful revival for the Bay. Kerr had a 12-man rotation and they hadn’t lost a single game. Tonight, not only did they drop a result, but Stephen Curry also limped off the court in agony. The same old ankle troubles found a way through the cracks.

Within a matter of minutes, the 36-year-old rolled his ankle twice. The second time for good as he rushed to the locker room for treatment. After the game, Steve Kerr, although concerned, revealed that Curry isn’t worried about a long spell of absence. However, he is still bound to miss time, given his history with such injuries. ESPN has a rough timeline for his eventual return.

Given it is a “mild or moderate” sprain, sources told Kendra Andrews that Curry could miss “several games” because of his ailment. If the assessment prior to the MRI remains correct, that could include back-to-backs against the New Orleans Pelicans and a third game against the Houston Rockets.

Stephen Curry had got off to a strong start, averaging 18.3 points in three games while shooting 40% from three. Moreover, currently averaging a career-low in minutes because of Kerr’s unconventional methods, he also functioned as a facilitator, dishing a team-high 6.7 assists per game. The pressing matter now is who takes over in his absence.

How can the Warriors cope with the loss of Stephen Curry?

Since the start of the season, Kerr has emphasized “collectively” filling the voids of the roster. Collaboration is exactly how the Warriors will need to get through the phase of not having Stephen Curry assume the major offensive duties. In the press conference, Kerr did name a nominee for the same. “Wiggs is off to a great start and had a great night. He’s an obvious candidate to get the ball more,” the seasoned coach detailed. However, he also knows that apart from Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors have a “deep” roster that can supply in this time without their franchise ace.

With Wiggins, the Canadian is off to a flyer. Averaging 19.7 points, he currently leads the team in scoring and is coming off an ultra-efficient 29-point performance in the loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. But others have shown some bright flashes too. In terms of their three-point shooting, the onus will go upon Buddy Hield.

In the first two games, he came through with blistering three-point makes. Surpassing the 20-point threshold on both occasions, he is shooting the ball at a ludicrous 53% in three games. A lot of it is his study of mechanics. In particular, in training, Hield admitted to watching Curry’s movement for years. “He has a great arc on his ball. That’s what I’ve been working on,” he said about his specific focus.

This tandem might have to take on the heavier loads left by Curry’s absence. However, others, such as Podziemski, Kuminga, and other budding prospects, have the opportunity to truly showcase their arsenal with the freedom to take a lot more shots. If utilized well, this could be a blessing in disguise for the Bay.

Do you think they will benefit from Stephen Curry missing a few games? Let us know your views in the comments below.