The warriors just ran into a buzz saw called the Wizards Tuesday night, as they lost that game 112-108. They didn't manage to come out of the game clean, as their summer star acquisition Kevin Durant sustained a knee injury early in the first quarter of that match. It was rumored to be a hyperextended knee, and he was scheduled for an MRI Wednesday morning. The news that came back weren't what the Warriors wanted, as Durant suffered a grade two MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise. He is out indefinitely and will be evaluated in about four weeks.
Star Struck
This injury to the star forward means a lot to a Warriors franchise that is currently in a little slump. Stephen Curry has been a tad bit cold the last two games, going a horrid 2-20 from three-point range these last two games. On the good side, they already clinched a playoff spot this early in the season. Durant is the team's leading scorer, with 25.6 points per game, but he has had the smallest impact on the Warriors out of the five starters, with a net efficiency rating of +8.6 when he is on/off the court this season. So the Warriors, even though it will be a significant physical replacement, statistically it shouldn't be that much of a challenge.
Durant's pure scoring is something special, and he will be missed in that aspect.
But when you have historically great shooters in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, they will pick up the slack.
The Warriors released a statement saying; "Following reviews of the MRI by the Warriors' medical staff, it has been determined that Durant suffered a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) sprain and a tibial bone bruise.
He will be out of action indefinitely and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. There is no timetable for his return, but it has not been ruled out that he could play again before the end of the regular season." (Sporting News).
Moving on
Well now that the Warriors have the news, how will the team as a whole react? Well, the Warriors are going to sign free agent Matt Barnes to a contract to attempt to replace Durant.
They were already going to sign guard Jose Calderon, but now that the team needs Barnes due to Durant's injury, they will honor their commitment, sign Calderon once her clears waiver Wednesday at 5 p.m., waive him again, then sign Barnes by tomorrow. Quite the headache of moves, but they need to do it.
Many people are running around worried about the Warriors, debating if they can keep moving on with this injury. Well if you don't remember, they won a record 73-games last year without him. So they can move on without him, but it will be tough. The Warriors spent so much time trying to make Durant fit in the system early in the season, and they were just hitting their groove. When Durant comes back, they'll have to once again, try to fit him in which takes time.
This injury is a devastating one for a star who was just finding his groove. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but the Warriors are not putting a timetable on his return. The Warriors will have to move on without him, and try to maintain that first seed in the Western conference. The most optimistic return for Durant will be playoff time.
