What was already shaping up to be a tough few weeks for the Warriors will now be even more challenging with the absence of Stephen Curry.
The four-time NBA champion is expected to miss multiple weeks of action after suffering a shoulder injury on Wednesday night in Golden State's 125-119 loss to Indiana.
How the Warriors, who are currently sitting under .500 on the season (14-15), manage without their star guard will be pivotal to their hopes of climbing up the standings in a stacked Western Conference.
They will have to keep things afloat by committee in his absence, made all the more difficult considering his high level of productivity through the first quarter of the season.
Can the Warriors survive without Curry?
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Stephen Curry is having an MVP-caliber season
Curry's scintillating play has papered over Golden State's up-and-down start to the season. In 34.4 minutes per game, Curry is averaging 30.0 points, 6.8 assists and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from 3-point range.
"If [Curry is] out, it will for sure get tougher," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after Wednesday's game. "But you just gotta persevere. You just keep playing, and you keep fighting. It's a long season.
"The thing I'm very, very confident about is, if we're healthy, we feel like we can beat anybody. I think this team has proven that. So, our job is to get there. We've got to find a way to navigate this season."
The Warriors' offensive identity revolves around Curry, with his scoring ability and the spacing his elite shooting provides for his teammates, not to mention drawing the primary attention of opposing defenses.
The numbers paint a clear picture. Golden State's offensive rating plummets a whopping 17.7 points per 100 possessions when he's on the bench, per PBP Stats.
| Warriors with... | MIN | NET RTG | OFF RTG | DEF RTG | 2PT FG% | 3PT% | OPP 2PT FG% | OPP 3PT% |
| Curry on court | 894 | 6.92 | 120.65 | 113.73 | 59.09 | 40.15 | 54.86 | 34.69 |
| Curry off court | 503 | -10.34 | 102.97 | 113.31 | 52.91 | 33.26 | 53.90 | 35.57 |
Replacing that kind of production is a tough ask for the Warriors, but they are armed with a solid replacement option.
Jordan Poole's increased role for Warriors
With Curry sidelined, the Warriors will lean on Poole to fill the void at point guard, a role he has flourished in as a starter.
Since signing his four-year extension in the summer, Poole has been solid for the Warriors this season, averaging 17.9 points, 4.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game. He has been less efficient than last season, though, shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from the 3-point line.
The good news for the Warriors: Whenever Poole's number has been called this season, he's raised his level of play as a starter, averaging 25.0 points in 10 games.
| Poole stats | MIN | GP | PTS | AST | REB | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TS% | USG% |
| Starter | 32.5 | 10 | 25.0 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 44.2 | 33.0 | 92.7 | 58.4 | 32.2 |
| Bench | 26.2 | 19 | 14.1 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 40.9 | 31.1 | 79.2 | 52.9 | 26.1 |
While Poole will be the player with the most increased responsibility in Curry's absence, the likes of Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody will be also be expected to help carry the offensive load.
Wiggins has missed the Warriors' last five games because of an adductor injury, but the team announced on Thursday that he has been cleared to join practices and shootarounds.
Warriors upcoming schedule with Stephen Curry sidelined
The Warriors continue their six-game road trip with a tough run of games, including matchups against the 76ers, Raptors, Knicks and Nets, before hosting the Grizzlies on Christmas Day.
Their dominance at home (12-2) has kept them afloat this season, but after losses to the Bucks and Pacers to start their six-game road trip, they hold the worst road record in the Western Conference at 2-13.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 16 | at 76ers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 18 | at Raptors | 6 p.m. |
| Dec. 20 | at Knicks | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 21 | at Nets | 7:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 25 | vs. Grizzlies | 8 p.m. |
| Dec. 27 | vs. Hornets | 10 p.m. |
| Dec. 28 | vs. Jazz | 10 p.m. |
| Dec. 30 | vs. Trail Blazers | 10 p.m. |
| Jan. 2 | vs. Hawks | 10 p.m. |
| Jan. 4 | vs. Pistons | 10 p.m. |
| Jan. 7 | vs. Magic | 8:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 10 | vs. Suns | 10 p.m. |
| Jan. 13 | at Spurs | 7:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 15 | at Bulls | 3:30 p.m. |
