OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Warriors might feel fully rested after taking the entire weekend off. They are not fully healthy, though.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr pleaded patience on any thought that either Kevin Durant or DeMarcus Cousins could return for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors will evaluate Durant on Thursday after straining his right calf last week in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets of the Western Conference finals. Since Durant's re-evaluation takes place just before Game 2, it appears unlikely he would play then. The Warriors do not have a formal date on evaluating Cousins, who has sat out since Game 2 of the Warriors-Clippers first-round series last month. The Warriors do not see either players' return as imminent since they have not cleared Durant and Cousins for any contact drills.
"If a guy hasn't seen any live action the day before the first game of a series," Kerr said, "it's tough to see that turning that around quickly."
Kerr described Durant's injury as "open-ended" since the Warriors do not have a specific timeline. Therefore, Kerr rejected "people getting the idea that he's going to come back and be Willis Reed" considering that Durant "still has pain." Durant did not participate in any of the Warriors' practice on Monday. But Warriors forward Kevon Looney observed that Durant "was real active and talkative" during the team's film session. Following the Warriors' close-out Game 6 win over Houston on Friday, Durant talked with various Warriors players and officials via FaceTime.
"He wants to support us until he gets back with positive energy," Stephen Curry observed about Durant. "It's tough when you go through rehab and missing games. His progress, it'll come as it does. I know he's given himself every opportunity to give back as soon as possible."
So has Cousins, who received clearance last week to complete spot-shooting and conditioning drills. Cousins continued those drills on Monday, but Kerr shared that "he's not that close either." With Kerr saying "hopefully another week goes by and things start to get better," it appears unlikely Cousins would play in at least Games 1 through 4 against Portland. It also remains to be seen when the Warriors will clear Cousins for contact drills.
Meanwhile, Warriors center Damian Jones completed contact drills as well as a full-court, 3-on-3 scrimmage on Monday as part of his rehab on a left pectoral muscle he tore on Dec. 1, 2018. While Jones has remained calm and encouraged with his progress, Cousins has become antsy.
"He's been dying on the bench watching our games," Looney said of Cousins. "He's been working hard. Hopefully he can get back soon and help us out. I see he's working hard. He's been in great spirits and has been a great calming force on the bench."
Meanwhile, Curry reported progress on his displaced left middle finger that still requires a splint and wrapping tape. Following the Warriors' Game 6 win over Houston on Friday, Curry told Bay Area News Group that "a lot of it will hurt until I have time to rest."
"Definitely better, but we'll see tomorrow," Curry said. "You can't simulate game-like contact and intensity and that type of stuff. But definitely better than what it felt on Friday."
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