OAKLAND, Calif. -- In sports, where not much is literal, the Warriors seek to compensate for a lack of something metaphorically murderous. Right now, Stephen Curry has a particular set of skills, momentarily interrupted by a particular set of suits.
"We’re going to show them what 'strength in numbers' really means through the whole playoffs until the killer comes back,” Warriors big man and part-time philosopher Marreese Speights says of the task at hand.
The official timetable on recovery from Curry’s MCL strain is two weeks, meaning this particular killer currently walks as languidly as Anton Chigurh. Even if Golden State can beat, say, the Portland Trail Blazers without Curry’s services, it’s a distressing development, to be sure. Athletes can find inspiration in misfortune, though. Right now, the Warriors fight for Steph Curry while seeking to prove themselves as something more than just Steph Curry.
“We've got another killer who draws a lot of attention, as well,” Andre Iguodala said in the aftermath of the team's first-round victory over the depressing Houston Rockets. “And you have someone who's so good that you guys tend to forget about him a little bit, and that's Klay.”
It’s not so much that Klay Thompson is forgotten about; it's more that he isn’t clearly defined as his own entity. He’s the less lauded “Splash Brother,” a very good player whose quality gets overshadowed by Curry’s transcendence.
Now, Thompson gets to show what he might look like as the first option. It won’t be a traditional look -- as in, give the ball to your star and get out of the way. That’s not Klay’s game, even though he can make the occasional play out of the pick-and-roll. From what the Warriors are indicating, the goal is to use Thompson a bit like Reggie Miller. Or, as Mo Speights put it, “When Steph is out, Klay is more like a Reggie Miller player."
Iguodala gave context to that comparison, describing Golden State’s recent style change as, “[We’re] doing a few things different with Steph out. We don’t have that explosive, MVP-type player. But we did a really good job of getting into that mode, making a couple extra passes per possession. The ball had to move quicker. Klay has to move a little bit more than normal. Get the ball in the post a little bit more.”
Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston will be the primary post options, with Livingston playing a bit like Mark Jackson on Miller’s ’90s Pacers. They will be the hubs of offensive creativity as Thompson navigates screens in search of catch-and-shoot opportunities.
This is also an opportunity for Green to define himself, even if he doesn't feel that's necessary. “I don’t really pay attention to that noise,” Green said Wednesday when asked about the notion that he’s merely a product of Steph Curry. Green leaned into that particular question, embracing what could be construed as pejorative. “I am a product of Steph,” Green proclaimed. A few sentences later, he explained why such an admission isn’t a bad thing: “Oh, you can't do this without Steph or you can't do that without Steph. I know what I'm capable of. I also know he makes me better. I mean, he's incredible. If he don't make you better, you suck. So I'm fine with that.”
In some circles, there’s been a resistance to admit just how good Green is, even if he did just set the record for single-season plus-minus. There are a few reasons for this. It’s hard to erase the stigma of being a second-round pick. If you weren’t feted for stardom, people will be suspicious of your rise. There’s also the matter of how Green plays, which doesn’t fit the conventional norms of superstardom. You won’t often see Green creating his own jump shot, a sight we associate with big-time players. More now than ever, you’re likely to see Green creating opportunities for others, moving the ball quickly before the defense gets set.
Though this situation will primarily showcase Thompson, Green and Livingston, it will be an opportunity for everyone, right down to the emerging Ian Clark. The Warriors are clearly worse without Curry, but they hope to use his absence as a sharpening tool.
In this way, Golden State will attempt to get stronger sans its strongest force. They can’t play the same style without their MVP, and they can’t get away with many mistakes. Without the NBA’s best player, the Warriors must develop different methods of attack. In the meantime, they’ll hope their leader returns soon.
On whether the Warriors expect Curry back, Iguodala said, “Well, you have to. That's all you can do is try to hold down the fort 'til he comes back. And if you do that, it makes us just as strong.”
He paused, and adjusted his take. “Makes us stronger.”