4 Warriors who simply need to step up in Stephen Curry's absence

The Golden State Warriors will officially be without Stephen Curry for their home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday and Wednesday, which represents a major challenge for the franchise after a positive start to the season.

No one will replace the two-time MVP alone, but the Warriors will need a number of guys to step up given the absence of not only Curry but also De'Anthony Melton, who is out with a back strain.

There are still question marks about what Steve Kerr will do with the starting lineup and rotation, but there is little doubt that a quartet of certain players will play an important role in keeping Golden State afloat without its best player.

1. Brandin Podziemski

After an offseason filled with trade speculation and claims of star potential, Brandin Podziemski's first three games didn't quite go according to plan. Whether or not he was hampered by his broken nose and subsequent face mask, the 21-year-old did not score well, averaging just 6.3 points on 33.3% shooting from the floor and 7.1% from three-point range. Point distance.

Now Podziemski will be handed the keys to the Warrior's offense to some degree, with last year's 19th overall pick replacing Curry as the starting point guard. Golden State desperately needs more from Podziemski, especially in terms of his shooting and scoring.

2. Jonathan Kuminga

If Podziemski hasn't quite fired up yet, Jonathan Kuminga is another young player that has Warrior fans even more worried. While Kuminga had the starting small forward role he had long desired, he averaged just 8.0 points in 19.7 minutes on 33.3% from the floor and 11.7% from distance – eerily similar numbers to Podziemski.

Many assumed the 22-year-old forward would score more than 20 points per game for Golden State this season, and without Curry's offensive production, Kuminga will have to snap out of his panic quickly if his team wants to have a chance against the Pelicans.

3. Andrew Wiggins

After missing much of training camp and the first four preseason games, Andrew Wiggins has made a remarkable return so far. The 2022 All-Star appears to be a far better version than the player we saw last season. He averaged 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds on 55% shooting from the floor and 57.9% from three-point range.

Wiggins held Golden State to a sparkling 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting in Sunday's game, but the challenge now is whether he can back that up and be the consistent scorer the team needs in Curry's absence.

3. Draymond Green

While Curry was back in the locker room getting his ankle treated, fellow veteran Draymond Green also watched from the sidelines for the final eight minutes of the game – not because of an injury, but because Kerr decided not to play him.

It was the right decision. Green wasn't his active self against the Clippers, finishing the game with two points, five rebounds and two assists in nearly 27 minutes. The Warriors will need the 4x All-Star at his best without his longtime teammate by his side, especially if Green is asked to play more minutes at center while Kerr tries to find more shots on the floor.