The Warriors usually circle around KD for the pregame huddle. With him out, they improvise. Curry has used a mop, a ball, and now a random stadium employee. pic.twitter.com/U0Z4QHAkSH
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) May 21, 2019
How comfortable are the Warriors, up three games to none against the Portland Trail Blazers? So comfortable they were grabbing whoever they could to help them with their pregame ritual.
Before every game the Warriors huddle in the tunnel before taking the court. Usually Kevin Durant stands in the middle, drops a few dance moves on the people, and then slides out of the circle in the direction of the court.
If you’ve been living under a basketball rock for the past couple of weeks, you might have missed that Durant has missed the last four Warriors games with a stained right calf – a non-contact injury Durant suffered during a win against the Houston Rockets. That means Stephen Curry and the Warriors had to improvise to fill the 7-foot void that Durant leaves in the pregame huddle.
Before the game ESPN’s cameras caught Stephen Curry snag Oregonian sports writer Geoffrey C. Arnold and shepherd him to center stage. Arnold looked confused but played the part beautifully, before getting playfully shoved out of the huddle and back on his way.
With both Iguodala and Durant both missing the game, the Warriors might let Arnold get some minutes with the second unit. Lord knows Steve Kerr likes shaking up the rotations at unexpected times.