Golden State Warriors guard speaks on the increased role he has in the absence of Stephen Curry.
The Golden State Warriors are navigating one of the more difficult stretches of their season. The roster is thin, the standings are tight, and the play-in tournament is closing in fast.
In the middle of all of it, Brandin Podziemski is showing up for his teammate.
When Moses Moody took to Instagram on Sunday to share his first public words since suffering a season-ending torn patellar tendon, Podziemski was among the first to respond. He dropped a heart emoji on the post that has since tallied over 1,110 likes.
Moody’s Message and What Comes Next
GettyMoses Moody of the Golden State Warriors.
Moody’s Instagram post came days after he underwent successful surgery in Los Angeles following the tear he suffered against the Dallas Mavericks last week. His words reflected the character he has shown all season.
“I appreciate all of the love,” Moody wrote. “Every challenge I’ve been through in life I’m glad I went through. I’m sure I’ll feel the same about this.”
His season ends after 60 games, during which he averaged career-highs of 12.1 points and 40.1 percent shooting from three. For a Warriors team that has been starved of reliable perimeter shooting, his absence leaves a real hole.
Podziemski is one of the players tasked with filling it. In the three games since Moody went down, he has averaged 33.3 minutes, 22.3 points, and 7.0 rebounds while dishing out 4.7 assists per game. The workload has increased. So has the production.
The Curry Update
GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.
Hovering over everything is the question of whether Stephen Curry makes it back. He has been sidelined since January 30 with patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee, missing 25 consecutive games.
This week, Steve Kerr offered a small reason for optimism. He revealed to Sam Gordon of the San Francisco Chronicle that he had received a text from Warriors vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini, informing him that Curry had a “good session” of rehabilitation. An official status update is expected this week.
The next step is a successful scrimmage. Kerr has been clear that Golden State is not putting Curry in a play-in game cold. He needs real games to find his rhythm, and with seven regular season games remaining, that window is narrow.
“We are running out of games,” Kerr said earlier this week.
Speaking pregame, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini texted him today to inform him Stephen Curry had a “good session” as he rehabs his runner’s knee. Status update expected this week.
Where the Warriors Stand
Golden State has fallen to 36-39 and now trails the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers by three games with seven to play. The Clippers have won five straight. A finish of ninth or tenth is increasingly likely, which sets up a probable play-in matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The winner of that game would face the loser of the Clippers versus Phoenix Suns matchup for the final playoff spot. It is a difficult path. Last season, Golden State navigated the play-in as the seventh seed and knocked off the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round. A similar run this season would require everything to go right.
Starting with Curry.
Final Word for the Warriors
Podziemski is stepping up. Moody is staying positive. And somewhere in the background, Curry is putting in the work to get back.
The play-in is coming regardless. Whether Golden State arrives healthy enough to make noise is still being determined.
Seven games to find out.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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