Stephen Curry suffered a significant tailbone injury on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors. The Golden State Warriors are preparing to spend considerable time without their superstar.
However, former NFL player-turned-analyst Emmanuel Acho predicts more pain for the Warriors if Curry doesn’t come back soon.
Emmanuel Acho Doesn’t Mince Words While Highlighting the Warriors’ Prospects Without Stephen Curry
The four-time NBA champion suffered a fall under the basket while going for a drive in the third quarter. He immediately held his back in pain and was taken out of the game. He had put up 17 points, two rebounds, and one assist at the time he exited the contest.
Thanks to Jimmy Butler III’s efforts, the Warriors managed to win the closely contested affair 117-114. However, during his appearance on FS1’s “The Facility,” Acho predicted doom for San Francisco in the coming days.
“I believe if Steph Curry is out for a long period of time, the Warriors are in trouble,” Acho said. “The Warriors do not have an offense besides Steph Curry. The Warriors’ offense is, ‘Jimmy do something,’ like that’s the Warriors offense.”
.@EmmanuelAcho reacts to Steph Curry leaving game due to pelvic injury:
“If Steph is out for a long period of time, the Warriors are in trouble. They don’t have an offense outside of Curry.” pic.twitter.com/LQt3xwu4PY
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1)
“Outside of Steph Curry, they stand around the three-point line. They pass the ball around, pass the ball around. Then, Jimmy goes and tries to do something,” he added. “Draymond Green in transition, he can do some stuff. But if you really watch the Warriors over the course of the last two to three weeks without Steph Curry, they are an incredibly stagnant offense.”
Acho pointed out that despite all of Butler’s talent, the 35-year-old’s body isn’t up to the challenge. He suggested this was up for everyone to witness in the fourth quarter against the Raptors as he went 1-for-11 from the field.
“This is an offense that’s predicated upon not playing iso-ball. That’s actually predicated upon the fact that the ball can move faster than the man, but when Steph Curry goes to the bench, it completely turns into iso-ball,” added Acho.
“The dilemma for me is eventually, one, the Warriors’ offense will betray them without Steph Curry, and, two, Jimmy Butler’s body will betray him without Steph Curry because we saw a microcosm of it last night.”
According to the latest report, Curry will not travel to Atlanta to watch the Warriors take on the Hawks on Saturday. An MRI has confirmed that Curry has suffered a pelvic contusion and will be re-evaluated on Monday.
For the Warriors, the game against the Hawks will be an interesting test. If Curry isn’t able to return quickly, the likes of Butler and Green will have to step up.
