The Golden State Warriors kicked off their Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. While they are looking to win their fifth title of the Stephen Curry era, they could be without their franchise player for an extended period.
The two-time NBA MVP was forced to leave Game 1 in the second quarter after suffering a hamstring strain. The timeline for his return is at a minimum of one week.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal questioned whether Curry's body has begun to break down during "Inside the NBA".
"Older, maybe he's starting to break down," Shaquille O'Neal stated at halftime on Tuesday. "He moves a lot for a 36, 37-year-old. This could be crucial. If I'm Golden State, I definitely want to get this way for him. Rest him in Game 2. Give him a couple more days of rest. Possibly bring him (back) in Game 3. He's been playing well. The defense is a lot more looser than what Houston was doing. Houston was bringing a lot of bodies at him. This time, they got maybe one or two guys guarding him. I saw when he did that right there. I was nervous. I only want to say two things: Icy Hot. Man up. You'll be alright for Game 2, 3, 4 and 5."
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The Warriors could be forced to play without Curry for an extended period, should he not recover in the initial one-week timeframe. The 11-time All-Star was off to a great start in 13 minutes before leaving the game. He had recorded 13 points, one rebound and one assist while shooting 5-9 from the field and 3-6 from three-point range.
If Golden State is without Curry for several games, they will likely need a group effort to make up for his production. They stole Game 1 despite Curry's absence for the majority of the game.
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