Curry's injury could, in some crazy way, be an opportunity for Warriors

Things are no longer going the Warriors' way, which only means that they can prove their greatness in the face of real adversity.

More on GS: Curry to have MRI on Mon. | Curry's absence motivates GS in Game 4

With one bad slip, the Golden State Warriors now have to overcome the bad luck they've avoided for nearly two years. 

You can point fingers all you want, from Steve Kerr playing Curry on a bad ankle (like that had something to do with it -- spoiler alert: it didn't) to the ball boys for not cleaning up a sweat spot that had developed to the officials who didn't clean it up after Curry complained. You can rage to the heavens or the Basketball Gods or James Harden's beard but in the end, what resulted in Stephen Curry suffering a sprained knee in Game 4 vs. the Houston Rockets was just bad luck. 

The exact kind of bad luck that they avoided all last season, that everyone from Doc Rivers to LeBron James commented on. James said that the Warriors were the "healthiest team" he'd ever seen before this season. That, of course, was in contrast to the Cavaliers, who lost both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love during their Finals run last year, eventually running out of firepower after being up 2-1 on Golden State. They, of course, never lost LeBron James. 

There's no word yet on how long Curry will be out after suffering the sprained knee in Houston. It could be days, or weeks, or the entire postseason. What we do know is that sprained knees don't just heal themselves. If and when he returns, he's going to be hobbled, less than 100 percent, and that's on top of the ankle problem that was already going to limit him, according to his own comments last week. This is real adversity, not the challenge of getting up for a repeat title run, getting the best shot from teams in the regular season or toppling 73 wins against the half-Grizzlies. 

The Rockets do not pose a threat, and the Warriors proved that in the second half of Game 4. The challenge begins after this series, when they begin to face real competition. 

However, before you start etching the Warriors' tombstone after Curry's injury, realize that this also presents an opportunity. The Warriors want to show everyone that nothing about their incredible run is luck? Here's their chance. They've been dealt a big stroke of bad luck, the first thing to really put them on the edge. Things are no longer "going their way," which means they can shut everyone up if they step up and play through this. 

Joe Lacob took a lot of grief for his comments about the Warriors being "more than just Steph" and to be sure, no hedge fund mindset is going to get them through this, whether Curry plays or not. But Steve Kerr constantly talks about how his team plays together, and this gives them a chance to rely on that. It won't be easy, but it shouldn't be. Gregg Popovich talks about this all the time. "It's the playoffs. It's not supposed to be easy," the Spurs coach has been mic'd up saying several times. 

Athletes love challenges. They like competition. The Warriors are a proud, tough, skilled team that has proven it can win games without Curry. (Granted, three of them are vs. the Rockets, but still.) Curry may play, and if he is able to go out and dominate with a sprained knee it will only add to his legendary status and finally quiet anyone who ever suggested he wasn't tough enough. 

If the Warriors indeed make it through this, with the role players having to play bigger roles in longer minutes without their safety blanket, with Curry possibly playing through being far less than 100 percent? There will be nothing left to say, nothing left to complain about, no jabs left to make about Golden State. 

If they don't, they'll go down as the first team to win more than 70 games and not win the title. They say heavy is the crown? The crown has never been heavier than it is about to be. 

How much time will Steph Curry miss with his sprained knee? (USATSI)

CBSSports.com Experts' First-Round Predictions
	Ken Berger @KBergCBS	Bill Reiter @sportsreiter	Zach Harper @TalkHoops	James Herbert @outsidethenba	Matt Moore @MattMooreCBS	Ananth Pandian @Ananth_Pandian
Western Conference
Warriors vs. Rockets	in 4	in 4	in 4	in 4	in 5	in 4

SERIES SCHEDULE, RESULTS:

Western Conference First Round
Game	Date/Series	Location	Time	TV
Game 1: Warriors 104, Rockets 78	GS leads 1-0	Oracle Arena	3:30 p.m. ET	ABC
Game 2: Warriors 115, Rockets 106	GS leads 2-0	Oracle Arena	10:30 p.m. ET	TNT
Game 3: Rockets 97, Warriors 96	GS leads 2-1	Toyota Center	9:30 p.m. ET	TNT
Game 4: Warriors 121, Rockets 94	GS leads 3-1	Toyota Center	3:30 p.m. ET	ABC
Game 5: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors	Wednesday, April 27	Oracle Arena	TBD	TBD
Game 6: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets	Friday, April 29	Toyota Center	TBD	TBD
Game 7: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors	Sunday, May 1	Oracle Arena	TBD	TBD