Clippers get golden chance: Stephen Curry will miss 2 weeks

Now that Stephen Curry will miss the next two weeks with a Grade 1 MCL sprain, the Los Angeles Clippers have a golden opportunity to capitalize in the second round against the suddenly depleted Golden State Warriors.

In Game 4 against the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors — for 18 minutes — had their superstar and reigning MVP. Then, a wet patch of the court caused Stephen Curry to slip into a painfully awkward position, falling with his right knee stretched at an agonizing angle. In the MRI results that were received with great anxiety and concern, it’s been revealed that Curry has sustained a Grade 1 MCL sprain and will be out for two weeks. So, as hard as it is to see Curry injured, the Los Angeles Clippers suddenly have a golden opportunity to capitalize in the second round.

If they defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, as they should be more than capable of doing within six games, the Clippers will advance to the Western Conference Semi Finals, a stage of the playoffs that they always make. It’s a stage they generally reach with confidence, until they arrive and exit in disappointing fashion.

However, this time they’ll face the reigning champions who are forced to fight onward without their MVP.

As is now evident from the Warriors’ announcement, Curry could miss most (if not the entire) series if the Clippers advance past Portland quickly.

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical added that there is no damage to Curry’s knee, which adds promise that he should return after some time out to ideally help his team to win back-to-back championships. Although the phrase “could miss two weeks” is all that the Warriors and their fans will focus on.

In my column from today, published shortly before those dreaded MRI results were released, I discussed the immediate diagnosis as to how Curry’s absence can help the Clippers in the second round (you can read in full here):

Despite having a weak shooting night with lapses of energy in a Game 3 loss to the Blazers, a game in which Blake Griffin showed the signs of being out for three months, the Clippers are still far better than they were a year ago. Paul has been putting on a masterclass for months now, Griffin can really trouble the Warriors inside if he keeps any consistent form, and L.A.’s 4th ranked defense is far more resilient than their 15th ranked defense from last season.

If Curry is out, these attributes are only more beneficial to the Clippers in a now-or-never situation. Even without Steph the Warriors are incredibly formidable, but with no Curry to bury unbelievable shots and pull in multiple defenders with the gravity of his ability to free up others, his potential absence can’t be understated. After all, that’s why he’s the best player in the world and raises the offensive rating of the best team by 13.8 points per 100 possessions whenever he’s on the floor.

The Warriors leading by an average of +17.9 points per 100 possessions this season is all you need to know. But without him, that number plummeted to -4.3.

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The impact of Curry’s two-week absence doesn’t need much description. He undoubtedly became the NBA’s best player as he exploded for 30.1 points per game with a ridiculous player efficiency rating of 31.5 this season, adding 50.4/45.4/90.8 shooting splits to an already unreal stat line.

With him sidelined, the favor to win the series immediately heads towards the Clippers, who shined offensively without Griffin for several months and took a major step forward to rank 4th in defensive efficiency this season. That well-rounded effort, providing they keep their composure on the biggest stage for a change, could be enough against a Warriors team that still has serious ability.

Next: Clippers' shot at West Finals soars with Steph Curry's injury

No one, not even desperate LAC fans, should want to see Curry hurt. But despite the startling and painful situation that has emerged in what has been a relatively dull first round of the 2016 playoffs, the Clippers now have their chance to captilize and go for that out-of-reach upset to finally make the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their history.