Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry Injury and Other Early Causes for Concern

The Warriors have come back down to earth after a sweltering start, and already there are plenty of causes for concern.

With a new head coach at the helm and plenty of question marks surrounding the team, Golden State needs to address these concerns now or risk tumbling further and further down the Western Conference food chain.

5. Center Carousel

Andris Biedrins is the starting center for the Warriors. Hard to believe for a guy that averages less than 15 minutes per game. You can’t blame Mark Jackson too much for playing Kwame Brown for defensive purposes, but how is the young Latvian ever supposed to find his old form riding the bench?

Ekpe Udoh has also gotten some time at the five and has shown promise in limited action. He may be undersized, but his hustle and timing makes up for it.

Both Biedrins and Udoh need more defined roles moving forward. 

4. Klay Thompson Looks Lost

Can anybody say wasted lottery pick? Klay Thompson is looking more and more like a poor man’s Mike Dunleavy with each passing game.  So far, he has shown the ability to do nothing but spot up and shoot, and he hasn’t even done that well.

Limited skill set aside, Thompson simply looks lost at the NBA level. The speed and physicality of the game seems to be overwhelming the former Pac-12 star.

Props to Mark Jackson for doing everything he can to boost Klay’s confidence. He has given him the green light to launch, played him in crunch time and even started him over more deserving veterans. 

3. Dorell Wright’s Sophomore Slump

Dorell has actually been in the league for eight years, but in his sophomore campaign with the Warriors, the sharpshooting swingman has struggled mightily on the offensive end.

After career highs across the board last year, Wright is not even close to averaging double-digits in scoring. Even more shocking, he’s barely hitting any threes, a category that he led the league in only a year ago.  

Looking beyond the numbers, Dorell is playing timid, passing up open shots and looking to pass first. The improved defense and rebounding are nice, but Wright desperately needs to shed the lockout rust and get in the flow of the offense. 

2. Nate Robinson Signing

I love Nate-Rob’s high energy off the bench, but that’s about all the journeyman can bring to the Dubs. He is a defensive liability, shoots a low percentage from the floor and has not always seen eye-to-eye with teammates.

Already with two star players that are best defined as combo guards, signing the NBA’s premier little-man makes little sense. 

I actually think his personality can mesh with the Warriors and Mark Jackson, but that’s beside the point. For fans that are hoping for the next Earl Boykins, don’t hold your breath. 

1. Curry Playing on a Bum Ankle

Why aren’t the Warriors giving Stephen Curry a chance to get his ankle fully healthy?

It’s hard enough coming back from offseason surgery, but asking him to play big minutes with an impacted schedule is ridiculous. Hopefully, Golden State learns something from his most recent of three ankle sprains.

With never-ending trade rumors and a sexual harassment suit dogging Monta Ellis, Steph appears to be the face of the franchise going forward. It is not, and I repeat, not worth risking his career for a handful of early-season wins.