The Golden State Warriors are about to venture into territory they haven't been in for a while. Stephen Curry hasn't missed more than four games in a season since 2011-12, and his projected absence due to a swollen ankle is at least five games.
Despite losing the team's catalyst for a prolonged stretch, coach Steve Kerr sees a silver lining.
"In a weird way, it's a good thing for our team," Kerr said Wednesday, per Steve Reed of The Associated Press. "Obviously I want all of our players healthy ... I think big picture-wise over the next couple weeks it's an opportunity for our team to get better because we have to. We have no choice."
Related: GM 'curious' to see how team adapts to Curry's absence
Curry missed six games early in the 2016 playoffs due to a knee sprain, something the Warriors overcame via step-up performances from Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Golden State is even more stacked now, talent-wise, but there's no question they'll miss everything Curry does - from engineering the offense to blazing off screens and flame-throwing trey after trey.
"A team like ours, I think we will respond well without Steph because you feel threatened when all of a sudden you are without one of your best guys and you realize you are vulnerable," Kerr said.
The Warriors start their Curry-less stretch Wednesday in Charlotte against the Hornets.
