OAKLAND — The Warriors are focused on getting healthy, but they are still emphasizing the importance of winning.
Golden State enters Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers without five players, including three All-Stars.
Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry (ankle) won’t play for at least the next four games. Klay Thompson (fractured thumb) will be reevaluated in one week. Draymond Green is resting a sore shoulder. David West (right arm cyst) and Patrick McCaw (left wrist) are also unavailable.
With 15 regular season games remaining, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr is focused on giving his injured stars much needed rest, while encouraging the role players to step up in their absence.
“Our main priority is we have to get these guys, everybody, healthy in time for the playoffs,” Kerr said pregame Wednesday. “That’s the deal. But in the meantime, let’s keep winning. You never know what’s going to happen in this league. We just had half the team go down. Stuff happens. You keep playing, you try to win every night. You don’t do it at the expense of harming guys.”
Kerr will start Quinn Cook, Nick Young, and Kevon Looney alongside more experienced starters, Kevin Durant and Zaza Pachulia. It’s not the unit Kerr hopes to send into the playoffs, but he feels confident in the unit’s ability.
“The priority is still to win,” Kerr said. “I am not coming in here thinking like, we are just going to throw young guys out there and whatever happens, happens. We want to win, and we should. We should go out there and win. We got enough talent, and we are at home.”
Despite the heightened pressure on his these role players, Kerr is relaying a simple message..
“Go out and have fun,” Kerr said. “This is a great opportunity for guys. They should be chomping at the bit. Klay and Steph, what’s that, about 75 shots that aren’t going to be available on most nights that are suddenly there? It should be a free swing.”
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