Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 24 – NBA Blog

Warriors sweep Jazz, advance in NBA Playoffs

As pretty much everybody predicted, the Warriors have eliminated the Jazz. As most predicted, it happened in the form of a 4-0 sweep. The Warriors now advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they’ll play the winner of the Spurs vs Rockets series. Here’s the Bay Area News Group reporting:

Now they await the winner of the Rockets and Spurs series, which sits at 2-2. If it ends in six, the West Finals start in Oracle Arena on Sunday. If it extends to seven, the West Finals start in Oracle on Tuesday.

Either way, a rested, steamrolling Warriors team will be awaiting as monster favorites, having won 23 of their last 24 games dating back to mid-March and all eight of their playoff games by margins of 12, 29, 6, 25, 12, 11, 11 and 26 points.

But there were at least tiny moments of adversity on Monday night.

Early on, it didn’t look like it’d be that way. After hitting only one shot in a slow Game 3, Klay Thompson opened the scoring with a pair of jumpers. Then Steph Curry hit a pair of 3s. Then Kevin Durant found Curry on a creative give-and-go layup on a baseline out of bounds play.

Meanwhile, the Jazz offense slumped against a locked in Warriors defense, missing their first 10 two-point shots and going only 6-of-25 in the first quarter. A 12-3 lead became a 21-7 lead became a 39-17 first quarter cushion — similar to the 45-22 first quarter they popped on the Blazers in Game 4.

Steve Kerr undergoes spinal procedure

Steve Kerr is on break from coaching the Warriors, because of serious issues with his spine that are hopefully in correction as we speak. Here’s the Bay Area News Group with the latest update:

Joe Lacob revealed in an interview with Bloomberg Radio on Friday that Steve Kerr got a spinal leak procedure at Duke. The news spread late Saturday night.

So Sunday morning, Warriors general manager Bob Myers met with reporters to confirm the procedure and give an update on Kerr’s status. The ailing coach remains without a firm timetable for a return.

“It’s hard to answer some of this because even the doctors aren’t entirely sure of recovery time,” Myers said. “That’s why we’ve been a little indefinite about everything. We don’t know. But the procedure went well, as far as we know. Now it’s a case of how well it takes and when he might or might not be back. The good news is it’s on the path to recovery, but I wish I could be more definitive.”

Matt Barnes ready to return for Warriors

As if the Warriors needed more help, according to the San Francisco Chronicle they expect to have Matt Barnes back in action for tomorrow’s Game 1 against the Jazz:

Though head coach Steve Kerr still has no timetable for his return, the Warriors can find some comfort knowing that their roster is almost completely healthy.

Forward Matt Barnes, who has been sidelined since April 8 with a sprained right ankle, is expected to be available for Game 1 of the second round Tuesday against the Jazz. Point guard Shaun Livingston remains questionable with a sprained right finger, but is optimistic about being ready for Game 1.

Under Armour Stephen Curry basketball shoe not selling well

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on Under Armor’s Stephen Curry basketball, which apparently isn’t selling well.

Stephen Curry’s signature basketball shoe has been the target of plenty mockery. Thursday morning, on the company’s earnings call, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank admitted that he wasn’t pleased with the reception to the Curry 3.

“As we launched the Curry 3 late last year, our expectations continued to run high,” Plank said. “And while the 3 played very well on court for Stephen Curry and our athletes, a sluggish signature market and a warm consumer reception led to softer-than-expected results.”

No Steve Kerr or Kevin Durant tonight for Warriors

Here’s the Bay Area News Group reporting on the Warriors, who will be missing some key pieces tonight but still have everybody they should need to look like their usual selves:

The Warriors will be without their coach and star small forward for Game 3 in Portland on Saturday night, plus a pair of other rotation pieces.

Steve Kerr will not coach because of an illness. Kevin Durant will be sidelined for a second straight game because of a calf strain, the team announced. Matt Barnes (foot sprain) and Shaun Livingston (hand contusion) also remain out.

Kevin Durant likely to return Saturday

Following multiple workout sessions in recent days – including 2-on-2, 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 scrimmages – forward Kevin Durant has been cleared by the team’s medical and athletic training staffs to return to full-team practices.

If he does not suffer any setbacks following tomorrow’s practice, it is anticipated that Durant will play in Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena.

Durant has missed the last 19 games after suffering a Grade 2 left MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise against the Washington Wizards on February 28.

Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala to sit out Wednesday

As the NBA regular season winds down, teams with championship hopes have their eye on postseason health. Here’s the Bay Area News Group with the latest on the Warriors:

The Warriors will complete their final back-to-back of the season (playoffs included) on Wednesday night in Phoenix, taking an overnight flight there after their Tuesday night home game against the Timberwolves.

Steve Kerr is taking that opportunity to rest two of his main guys. Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala will both sit out the road game against the Suns.

“The training staff told me Draymond could really use the night off. The numbers show it. I talked to Draymond. He admits it, too. So it’ll be good.”

Draymond Green does not support Raiders move

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting Draymond Green’s view on news that the Raiders will be taking their football talents to Las Vegas. Of course, it should be noted that Green as a member of the Warriors plays in Oakland/San Francisco area and it wouldn’t be a smart move for him or anyone around there to say that they agree with losing the Raiders. Still, here’s what he said:

Draymond Green does not approve of Raiders move

After Tuesday’s win over the Rockets, forward Draymond Green called the Raiders’ move “ridiculous” and said he doesn’t plan to attend any more of their games. The team will stay in Oakland for the next two seasons, and possibly a third, as it waits for a $1.9 billion domed stadium to be built in Las Vegas.

“That’s like moving the Dallas Cowboys or moving the (Green Bay) Packers,” Green said. “Moving the Raiders? You can move a lot of teams, but there aren’t many fan bases like the Raiders’ fan base. It’s like moving the Boston Celtics from Boston or the Lakers from Los Angeles. You just don’t move certain franchises.”

Kevin Durant injury update

Following evaluations by the Warriors medical and athletic training staffs in recent days, the team announced the following update on Kevin Durant’s injury status:

Kevin has made very good progress since suffering the injury four weeks ago in Washington. He has not experienced any setbacks to date and has progressed as well as could be expected.

At this point, he is being incorporated into non-contact basketball drills – shooting, running and jumping – and the plan is to intensify his level of movement over the next several days, which will include more explosive cutting and lateral maneuvers.

His eventual return to contact drills and practice will be predicated upon his progress to the increased intensity of his workouts, and a return to game action prior to the end of the regular season remains a possibility.

He will be re-evaluated again in the next 7-10 days.

Stephen Curry passes Dell Curry in NBA points

Dell Curry was a fantastic NBA player. His son Stephen Curry is other-level, though. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune with the latest:

Stephen Curry passes father Dell Curry in NBA points

Golden State superstar Stephen Curry surpassed his father in NBA career points scored with a three-pointer in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Timberwolves at Target Center.

Dell Curry scored 12,670 points a 16-year career with five teams, the longest stint being with Charlotte. Stephen Curry did it in his eighth season, finishing the game with 26 points and 12,682 for his career. According to Elisa Sports Bureau, they are fourth all-time by a father-son duo, behind Joe and Kobe Bryant (38,895), Dolph and Danny Schayes (27,218) and Rick and Brent Barry (26,883).

And then there’s Seth Curry, who has found his way in the NBA with Dallas.