Never stop learning, for when we stop learning, we stop growing.

Loyal Jack Newman

Last Sunday the Golden State Warriors hosted Basketball Decoded x STEAM Fest for the youth at Chase Center. And no it wasn’t an introduction into the sauna business!

Back in my day, it was just STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). I even helped teach STEM courses at UC Berkeley during summers past to middle schoolers and high schoolers. But this newfangled STEAM includes Art, which as an art school kid myself, I appreciate as foundational in exercising creativity.

The family friendly event took place inside Golden State’s arena aiming to help introduce kids to STEAM related fields, build technological skills, and interact with various organizations involved with STEAM and sports. Booths were around Chase Center demonstrating coding, physics, and a virtual reality experience.

Here’s a quick rundown of the groups that were featured during the extravaganza:

• Santa Clara University

• Math Hoops

• The Hidden Genius Project

• TEAM Inc.

• Marshmallow Minds

• 826 Valencia

• Black Girls Code

• iD Tech

• Scientific Adventures for Girls

• University of California Santa Cruz

• Self e-STEM

Warriors rookie Moses Moody was a panelist and shared his thoughts on the importance of STEAM in basketball:

“It’s the foundation of almost any and everything. We’ve obviously got analytics and scouting reports. You gotta think about the numbers and know the numbers for other teams and the percentages”.

Looking back on his words almost a week later, and in the aftermath of the injury to face of the franchise Stephen Curry, I wondered what the numbers were for Golden State without Curry. Per Stat Muse, the Dubs have a 44-83 record when Curry isn’t on the floor since 2014-2015.

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater

The Warriors staff was upset with both of these Marcus Smart plays. First one was a roll up of Steph Curry's leg that has him currently in the locker room, second ruled a flagrant on Klay Thompson. Kerr was telling refs to review both plays, mimicking a leg chop to officials.

3:04 AM ∙ Mar 17, 2022

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Golden State Warriors @warriors

Stephen Curry, who exited Wednesday’s game vs. Boston with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter due to a left foot injury, underwent an MRI on Wednesday night. The MRI indicated that Curry suffered a sprained left foot ligament. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

7:44 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. @DrNiravPandya

Overall, the release from the Warriors re: Stephen Curry’s foot is re-assuring. For a foot “sprain” that is mild/moderate it would usually involve 2 weeks to let the soft tissues to “calm down” and then progression of activity. Key is hoping that he can progress without pain.

7:58 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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After getting the Big 3 of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on the floor for the first time in over 1,000 days in a win over Washington, Golden State is forced to shuffle lineups for the billionth time. And with the playoffs approaching in mid-April, this is not an ideal time to be without their 2-time MVP Curry.

BUT…if you’re an optimist (or have watched enough basketball that you have perspective and don’t panic over every microevent), there’s a good chance that if all goes well Curry can hit the playoffs fresh and rejuvenated for the tournament grind.

Ricky G @jrichardgoodman

Curry only 2 weeks can be a blessing fresh legs playoffs

10:23 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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Bonta Hill @BontaHill

Next two weeks for the #Warriors without Stephen Curry: Eight games that include two back-to-backs (SA, ORL, MIA, ATL, WAS, MEM, PHX, UTAH). If the Dubs could squeeze out a 4-4 record, that'd be golden, IMO.

9:19 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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Kerith Burke @KerithBurke

the Warriors have 12 games left with four back-to-backs and I'm..processing that

6:44 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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Of course you’re also welcome to assume this means Curry will never walk again in time for the playoffs and the Dubs will be swept out by the Minnesota Timberwolves. We protect all kinds here at the HQ, wherever you fall on the optimistic/pessimistic scale #muchlove.

But whether or not Curry does come back at all resembling himself for the first game of the playoffs, the time without him means Curry’s teammates get to explore ways that they can affect the game for good without relying on their captain’s brilliance.

Kate Rooney @TheKateRooney

With Curry out, there will be a certain amount of pressure for Thompson/Wiggins/Poole to score. Today Klay said it's gonna take a "collective effort" to attempt to replace Steph's production. #warriors #DubNation

1:11 AM ∙ Mar 19, 2022

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Kylen Mills @KylenMills

Steve Kerr says the Warriors focus now will be to lock in defensively. He says the team has plenty of players who can score in Steph’s absence, they need to rediscover the defensive prowess they had the first 2.5mo of the season. It fell off without Draymond. #dubnation

9:53 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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Jordan Poole was a beneficiary of Green’s playmaking tutorials rookie year with both Splash Bros out. During Poole’s sophomore season, he and Curry shared ball-handling duties with Green and made it to the play-in games. Now in Curry’s absence, Poole gets to play alongside Green and Thompson to find ways to add his own flavor to the system that galvanized the Big 3 to win championships.

There’s also plenty of room for All-Star starter Andrew Wiggins to get busy, a fact he’s well aware of.

Kylen Mills @KylenMills

Andrew Wiggins says he wants to be more aggressive offensively to fill the void in Steph’s absence, he also says the team needs to step up as a whole defensively. Wiggins says even without Steph the warriors can play at a high level and win games. @kron4news #dubnation

9:14 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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And you could go down the roster and name an opportunity for each person, like hey maybe Moody gets more playing time and suddenly emerges as a playoff-ready killer who hits five triples off the bench in the second round.

That’s what excites me about this brief period of the unknown without Curry; the opportunity for roles to expand and provide learning opportunities for a hungry roster.

vid @its_vid

Them >

11:22 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022

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This education should serve GSW well, because we all know that when you stop learning…you stop growing. GROW WARRIORS, GROW!