Stephen Curry, Chris Paul Injuries Create Tremendous Opportunity Out West

Let’s give thanks that Stephen Curry didn’t hurt his knee in one of the final regular-season games pursuing that record 73rd victory.

We never would’ve heard the end of it from the preservationists.

The “better safe than sorry” propaganda would’ve found a rapt audience, because it’s oh so easy to be a backseat driver instead of the achiever actually determined to steer a team forward.

Chris Paul’s broken shooting hand suffered Monday night provided more fodder for the “dangers” of actually playing basketball. Even now, there is a faulty school of thought that the Golden State Warriors should’ve been even more cautious with Curry’s ankle sprain, because some residual weakness might’ve contributed to this knee sprain that is jeopardizing the Warriors’ season.

It’s all folly. You do the best you can—you push to become the best you can—and sometimes the unexpected, disappointing injury happens. That’s the sporting life.

The challenge in front of Curry and Paul, two of the top three point guards in this league, is their fight not to wonder, “Why me?”

Yet there is a more inspirational lesson rising out of the misfortune that befell them:

Who really put in the work behind the scenes to prepare for this exact opportunity? Who is truly ready for what fate unexpectedly provided? Who is ready to assume a higher profile, with no regard for how things should have played out?

This isn’t just about Shaun Livingston or Curry’s other Warriors teammates. It isn’t just about Austin Rivers or Paul’s Los Angeles Clippers co-stars, either.

This is an unforeseen opportunity provided to virtually everyone still alive in the Western Conference playoff bracket.

Welcome to prime time, Portland Trail Blazers

Immediately, it’s there for no one more than Portland’s Damian Lillard. All of a sudden, a season wherein Lillard and the Trail Blazers had …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com