With Steph Curry Out, Quinn Cook is Proving all the Doubters Wrong

With Steph Curry's MCL sprain keeping him out for at least the first round of the playoffs, the Western Conference looks more open than it has in quite some time. The Rockets will finish with the top seed, while frisky teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder will likely view the Golden State Warriors as a bit less invincible than they've been since morphing into a juggernaut during the 2014-15 season.

But while Curry's latest injury might seem like a big opportunity for the defending champion's fiercest opponents, there's one player who can truly make the most out of an otherwise adverse situation: Quinn Cook.

Despite a solid four years with the Duke Blue Devils, including a National Championship during his senior season, Cook never made much of an impression on NBA scouts. After graduating, he bounced around various G-League affiliates, and made stops with the Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Atlanta Hawks before catching on with Golden State. (The Warriors signed Cook to a two-way contract just before this season began.)

Had the Warriors not been ravaged by injuries, Cook would still likely stew under the NBA's surface. Instead, he's replaced a two-time MVP as the Warriors starting point guard.

To the surprise of just about everyone, Cook has proven surprisingly capable. Despite being a DNP-Coach's Decision for most of the season, Cook was ready to go when Steve Kerr needed his services. This translated to a 25-point (including five threes) outburst in a close loss against the Sacramento Kings in March. The following night, he hit another five threes in a win against the Phoenix Suns, while tallying a career-high 28 points.

Yes, this production came against two of the league's worst teams, but buckets are buckets, and Cook showed that on any given night he can set the court on fire. He's also had some weak games—like a 5-for-17 performance against the Indiana Pacers—but has proven himself to be a much better shooter than regular backup Shaun Livingston (who, well, doesn't shoot threes). When Kerr constructs his playoff rotation, Cook's ability to space the floor should factor into the equation.

At first, Cook didn’t just replace Curry, he played with a team full of replacements on one of the league's most injured rosters. But while Curry will be out for at least the first round of the playoffs, the other three Golden State All-Stars have returned, and the team looks much similar to its true form. With Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant demanding defensive attention, it often leaves Cook with quality looks. He's taken advantage: in Sunday’s win over the Suns he scored 19 points and shot 3-of-5 from downtown.

This was a fine example of how Cook’s strong shooting will allow the Warriors to keep their usual offense intact while Curry sits. He won’t replicate Curry’s production, but he allows Golden State to sustain their spacing, which is the most essential feature of the offense. Livingston will continue to come off the bench, while Cook's range will allow the Dubs to still have three spacers on the floor at the beginning of every game.

Cook does have one glaring flaw, though. His Defensive Box Plus-Minus is a ghastly -2.8, and it’s easily his biggest problem. This, however, is where getting to play on a stacked team like the Warriors comes in handy. Their starting five includes three brilliant defenders in Green, Thompson, and Durant. For the time being, this will allow the Dubs to hide Cook on the other team’s least-threatening player.

Cook’s defense could still be a problem when up against a juggernaut like the Rockets, but on most nights the Warriors can shield him from being exposed in ways the Boston Celtics ultimately couldn't last year with Isaiah Thomas. Hopefully, as Cook becomes more used to serious minutes on a nightly basis, his defense will improve. For the time being, though, the Dubs are deep enough on defense to prevent Cook’s weaknesses from being a serious concern.

Cook's performance will not only impact the Warriors, but it will go a long way in determining his future in the league. Let's suppose he hangs on to the starting job through the Warriors first-round series, and plays well up until Curry's return. In that event, Kerr will have no choice but to continue playing him off the bench, even if it means a DNP-CD for Livingston. That may seem iffy considering Livingston’s seniority, consistent production, and status as one of the best locker room presences in the league, but Cook’s range better suits the modern NBA. Kerr knows that, and will go with who gives him the best chance to win.

Despite a great career at Duke, Quinn Cook was disregarded when entering the NBA, and he bounced around for a long time as a result. Now, though, he's been given one of the rarest opportunities we've ever seen. With Curry out until at least the second round, this young journeyman has the keys to one of the greatest offenses in NBA history. Cook is a talented player whose skill set cannot be slept on. Three years after being passed on 60 times in a row, he has the perfect chance to show everyone just how wrong they were.

And he may not even have to wait that long. A report on Wednesday, one night after Quinn chipped in 12 points and six assists in a win over the Thunder, indicate the Golden State and Quinn are close to working out a long-term deal.