Steph Curry Admits One Key Factor Could Limit Warriors This Season

Before the Golden State Warriors open the regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at Crypto.com Arena, guard Stephen Curry has already pointed to the one thing he thinks could get in the way of a good year, and it is the same problem that followed this team for most of last season.

Curry was a guest on The Stephen A. Smith Show recently, where he was asked about the biggest obstacle between the Warriors and success this year.

"It's health. I mean, I missed whatever, so many games last year," Curry said.

He then named center Kristaps Porzingis, center Al Horford and forward Draymond Green as players who know how to win big games, and he said that if the group can stay healthy and keep a steady lineup through the regular season, he feels the team already showed enough last year.

He also brought up how much it hurt the Warriors when players were missing, and he added that every team needs health on its side, with some needing it more than others.

Curry played in just 43 games last season, and the Warriors finished 37-45 and 10th in the Western Conference.

That worry showed up before a single game was played.

Curry is listed as probable tonight on the official NBA injury report with right ankle soreness after he hurt the ankle in practice on Sunday, but head coach Steve Kerr did not seem too worried about the ankle.

Guard Brandin Podziemski has been ruled out with lower back soreness, so his next chance to play comes Friday when the Memphis Grizzlies visit Chase Center.

Porzingis is listed as out and not with the team, and the Warriors have not shared more about what has been called an undisclosed health issue, though Porzingis has given his own update on the illness.

Forward Jimmy Butler is still working back from a torn right ACL he suffered on Jan. 19, and ESPN's Anthony Slater reported he could return sometime between January and February, which gives the Warriors a clearer timeline for Butler and guard Moses Moody.

Slater also reported that Moody, who ruptured his left patellar tendon in March, is on track for a possible return between December and January.

I think Curry is right, and with four Warriors players already ruled out for tonight, it is not a hard call to make.

The Warriors look their best when Curry, Green, Horford and Porzingis can all share the floor, but that group is already down one big man, so guards like De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II and Will Richard will have to pick up more minutes early in the season.

Curry is the one player the Warriors cannot afford to lose for long, so I was glad to see him listed as probable tonight with the Grizzlies coming to Chase Center on Friday.

My guess is that if he and Green can stay on the floor while Porzingis, Butler and Moody work their way back, this team can stay afloat in the West until it gets closer to full strength, but one more injury to a starter would make that a lot harder.