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As Connor Letourneau of the S.F. Chronicle pointed out during the Golden State Warriors’ 126-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks last night, the team tends to struggle when two-time MVP Stephen Curry sits out.
Without getting into any debates about the relative value of Curry and Kevin Durant, missing the spacing that Curry brings just changes the Warriors’ entire dynamic on the court and Quinn Cook just can’t be expected to replicate that.
Since the start of 2014-15, Golden State is 26-24 without Curry. That's about to be 26-25.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 24, 2019
When asked why Curry sat out, Steve Kerr calmly explained that this had been in the works for some time because a late-season back-to-back was the perfect time to rest their star as they get ready for the 2019 NBA Playoffs. As described by Mark Medina of the Bay Area News Group, Curry had played 48 consecutive games — if you want him to lead the team to a fifth straight NBA Finals appearance, you gotta rest him sometime.
Meanwhile, Curry has played in 48 consecutive games this season after sitting for 11 games because of a strained left groin.
“Steph is there for us every single game,” Kerr said. “The way he moves and the energy he expends, it’s a great night to give him a night off on a back-to-back. So tonight is the night. We have to make sure we cover our bases without him.”
Steve Kerr on resting Steph Curry tonight. Says he and the Warriors training staff have been discussing this decision for several weeks. With a home back to back this was the time to do it:”It’s a great night to give him a night off.”
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 23, 2019
But while Kerr was playing it coy, we all know the real reason that Curry sat out: he was clearly planning a surprise birthday part for his wife, Ayesha, who turned 30 on Friday night and just needed a recovery day.
And I don’t blame him. His throat was probably sore from all that singing and he didn’t feel like yelling at Durant to quit all those isos the next day.
You can check out a complete account of the festivities from the celebrity gossip site The YBF — Young, Black and Fabulous because that’s what Steph and Ayesha are — by clicking here. Yet the bottom line is that Curry has led this franchise to three championships, won two MVPs, and revolutionized basketball — this is about self-care, spending some quality time at the club to celebrate his wife. I, for one, fully support that.
My only complaint is that he didn’t take the whole weekend off.
So my Warrior Wonder for last night: Steph Curry, for knowing when it’s time for a little self-care and living his best life.
Poll
Who is your Warrior Wonder for the loss to the Mavs?
This poll is closed
-
63%
Steph "YBF" Curry
(95 votes) -
2%
Quinn Cook
(4 votes) -
8%
DeMarcus Cousins
(13 votes) -
11%
Kevin Durant
(17 votes) -
0%
Draymond Green
(1 vote) -
5%
Klay Thompson
(8 votes) -
0%
Jonas Jerebko
(1 vote) -
1%
Jordan Bell
(2 votes) -
1%
Alfonzo McKinnie
(2 votes) -
0%
Andre Iguodala
(0 votes) -
0%
Damion Lee
(0 votes) -
2%
Jacob Evans
(4 votes) -
1%
Kevon Looney
(2 votes)
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